Wyken Pippin

Apple

Wyken Pippin

Origin / History

An old variety. Downing, citing Ronalds, places its origin near Coventry, England. The George Bunyard catalog of 1914 says it was found at Wyken, near Coventry, during the 18th century. Bunyard gives it as introduced into England from Holland about 1720, and adds: "It is not now recognised as any Continental variety." The George Bunyard catalog of 1901 calls it "a fine old Orchard fruit." The 1914 catalog calls it "an excellent old variety worthy of preservation." It was planted under test at the Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz, British Columbia, in spring 1894.

Tree

Upright, compact, fertile; hardy (Downing). Bunyard calls the growth moderate and very upright when young, while the Agassiz station calls it a vigorous grower. Veitch says the tree forms a dwarf pyramid. Productive and bears well, with fertility rated good. Leaf very small, gray-green, upcupped, undulating, curved serrate (Bunyard).

Fruit

Size: Small to below medium, 3 by 2 (Bunyard). The George Bunyard catalog of 1914 alone calls it medium.

Form: Oblate, flat, or flattened-round, regular, even. Downing calls it oblate conical.

Stem: Very stout (Bunyard).

Cavity: Very narrow, often rather warted (Bunyard).

Calyx: Eye open (Bunyard).

Basin: Wide, shallow (Bunyard).

Skin: Greenish yellow to yellow. Downing gives a dull orange blush in the sun, mottled and marbled with light russety patches. Handsome (Veitch).

Dots: Light russety (Downing); gray (Agassiz station).

Flesh and flavor: Yellowish to yellow, tender, crisp, juicy, aromatic. Sweet subacid to nearly sweet, "richly flavoured" (Veitch). The Agassiz station rates the quality "good," and the George Bunyard catalog of 1914 calls it "of excellent flavour."

Core and seeds: Not described in source.

Season

The recorded season runs from December to April. Downing gives December to February and Bunyard till February, while the Agassiz station gives December alone. The Veitch and George Bunyard 1914 catalogs carry it from December to April.

Uses

A dessert apple. Veitch calls it suitable for orchard or garden culture, and the George Bunyard catalog of 1901 calls it "worthy of culture in the garden."

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Bunyard refers the name "Wyker Pippin" to Golden Reinette.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)
Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Wykjen Pippin

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 7 catalogs (1894–1917) from England, Oregon

Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917

View original book sources (6)

Wykjen Pippin.

Warwickshire Pippin. Girkin Pippin. Arley.

An old variety, originated near Coventry, England. Tree upright, hardy, and productive.

Fruit below medium, oblate conical, greenish yellow, with dull orange blush in sun, mottled and marbled and dotted with light russety patches and dots. Flesh yellowish, tender, juicy, sweet subacid. December, February. (Ron.)

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

WYKEN PIPPIN. Ronalds, P. 41. F., Pepin de Warwickshire. (Warwickshire Pippin, German Nonpareil.) Dessert, till February, small, 3 by 2, flattened-round, regular. Colour, greenish-yellow. Flesh, tender, yellow, aromatic. Eye, open, in a wide, shallow basin. Stem, very stout in a very narrow cavity, which is often rather warted. Growth, moderate, very upright when young; fertility, good. Leaf, very small, grey-green, upcupped, undulating, curved serrate. Origin, introduced into England from Holland, about 1720. It is not now recognised as any Continental variety.

Wyker Pippin: see Golden Reinette.

— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)

Planted Spring 1894. Tree a vigorous grower. Fruit below medium size, oblate. Skin yellow with gray dots. Flesh yellowish, tender, juicy, nearly sweet, quality good. Season December.

— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)

Small; a fine old Orchard fruit; worthy of culture in the garden.

— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue (1901) (1901)

small and handsome, juicy, crisp and richly flavoured, the tree forms a dwarf pyramid and bears well, suitable for orchard or garden culture ... Dec. to April

— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)

Dessert; Dec.-April. Medium, flat, round, even, greenish-yellow: flesh crisp, of excellent flavour; growth compact, fertile. An excellent old variety worthy of preservation. Found at Wyken, near Coventry, during the 18th century.

— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Catalog of Fruit Trees (1914) (1914)

Alford Prize Arley German Nonpareil Girkin Pippin Pepin de Warwick Pepin de Warwickshire Pepping von Wyken Pheasant's Eye Pippin du Warwick Warwickshire Pippin White Moloscha Wykjen Pippin