Plants in the Hortus

Many of the plants described here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861. A large number of additional plants were identified from correspondence, gardening notebooks and other documents surviving in the archives. The Hortus attempts to describe all the plants grown in the gardens at Camden Park and those grown in horticultural enterprises such as orchards and vineyards and includes plants grown outside the gardens in the park-like environs of the Camden Park estate. The Hortus plants served a wide range of purposes in the 19th century household; as ornament, living fences, fibre, dyestuffs, medicines, food and drink from the garden, orchard and vineyard and many others.

Malus domestica ‘Early Summer Apple’

This brief description is in William Macarthur’s Notebook no.9 ‘February-March. Great acid, of little value’. [Notebook no.9, MP A2948].

Malus domestica Borkh. var. ‘English Russet’

‘Roxbury Russet, Boston Russet, Pineapple Russet. This variety is cultivated extensively in Massachusetts for the Borston Markets, and for exportation. The fruit is of medium size; of a fine yellow russet colour, mixed with dull red; flesh white, juicy, rich, sub-acid, and excellent; for use in winter, and will keep till June.’ [FCM p.45/1845].

Malus domestica ‘Femme de Neige’

‘A Canadian apple of great beauty; in size medium; skin light green, stained with bright red; flesh white, very tender’ juice saccharine, with a musky perfume: ripe in October, and will keep good until Christmas. Tree hardy and productive.’ [FCM p.41/1845].

Malus domestica ‘French Crab’

‘Fruit middle-sized, somewhat globular, about two inches and a quarter deep, and two inches and a half in diameter, perfectly free from angles on its sides. Eye small, almost closed, flat, surrounded by a few very small, angular, crumpled plaits. Stalk half an inch long, slender, deeply inserted, not protruding beyond the base. Skin rather thick, deep clear green, with numerous white dots interspersed; on the sunny side, shaded with a pale livid brown; but the whole becomes yellow with keeping. Flesh very hard, pale green, or yellowish white. Juice not plentiful, sub-acid, with a slight aromatic flavour. An excellent culinary apple, from November till the November following.’ [George Lindley – Orchard guide p.45/1831].

Malus domestica ‘Gogar Pippin’

Fruit; Medium size, roundish, angled and slightly flattened. Skin; pale green, thick, strewn with small russet dots, faintly mottled red next the sun. Flesh; greenish white, tender, juicy, sugary, brisk. [HP pl.LIV/1878].

Malus domestica ‘Golden Harvey’

‘A dessert apple, not larger than the Golden Pippin; colour light yellow, with a flush of red, and embroidered with a roughish russet. It is called Brandy Apple from the superior specific strength of its juice, being 10.85; it is of remarkably close texture, very rich in flavour, and will keep till April or May’. [FCM p.43/1845].

Malus domestica Golden Nonpareil’

‘A small, handsome, dessert apple, of first-rate quality, it is of a round shape, yellow and russet color ; and is in use from December till February.’ [Hogg p.236/1851].

Malus domestica ‘Golden Pippin’

‘Fruit, small; roundish, inclining to oblong, regularly and handsomely shaped, without inequalities or angles on the sides. Skin, rich yellow, assuming a deep golden tinge when perfectly ripe, with a deeper tinge where it has been exposed to the sun; the whole surface is strewed with russety dots, which are largest on the sunny side, and intermixed with these are numerous embedded pearly specks. Eye, small and open, with long segments, placed in a shallow, smooth, and even basin. Stalk, from half-an-inch to an inch in length, inserted in a pretty deep cavity. Flesh, yellow, firm, crisp, very juicy and sugary, with a brisk, vinous, and particularly fine flavor.’ [Hogg p.95/1851].

Malus domestica ‘Golden Reinette’

Fruit; medium, roundish, a little flattened. Skin; deep yellow, tinged red next the sun, streaked with red, dotted all over with russety dots. Flesh; yellow, crisp, brisk, juicy, sugary. [HP pl.XLIX/1878].

Malus domestica ‘Golden Russet’

‘Fruit below the middle size, pretty regular in its outline, without angles, generally about two inches deep, and two inches and a quarter in diameter. Eye rather small, close, moderately depressed, surrounded by irregular plaits, part of which are more prominent than the rest. Stalk very short, deeply inserted in an uneven narrow cavity, not protruding so far as the base. Skin thick, of a pale copper-coloured yellowish russet, very thick and rough on the shaded side, with a few patches, occasionally, of bright red on the sunny side, and verrucose at the base. Flesh pale yellow, very firm and crisp. Juice not plentiful, but saccharine, of an aromatic and slightly musky flavour. A dessert apple from December till April.’ [George Lindley – Orchard Guide p.89/1831].

Malus domestica ‘Gravenstein’

‘Fruit rather large and compressed; of a yellowish green colour, striped with red; flesh crisp, and high flavoured: ripens in October, and lasts till April. Yhis variety originated in Germany, and is considered the best dessert apple in that country.’ Listed among Autumn Fruit. [FCM p.41/1845].

Malus domestica ‘Green Desert Apple’

Probably a variety raised at Camden Park. Described as no name (‘Green Apple’) in Macarthur’s Notebook no.9. March-May. ‘Great. Good for dessert only, has [undeciphered words] spicy flavour, not very juicy and sometimes becomes mealy. [Notebook no.9, MP A2948]. It was also briefly described in a gardening diary: ‘No name. March-May. Great bearer. For dessert only, very highly flavoured but without acid.’ [Diary B, 1862, MP A2951].

Malus domestica ‘Hampshire Nonsuch’

‘This is a pretty large, well-shaped apple, of a greenish-yellow color, streaked with red, it keeps till the latter end of November.’ [Hogg p.239/1851].

Malus domestica ‘Hawthornden’

‘Fruit large, roundish; skin pale greenish yellow, tinged with blush; the pulp white, tender juicy and acid; and the fruit is good for the table as well as for all kitchen purposes: in September and October. The tree is hardy and prolific.’ [FCM p.43/1845].

Malus domestica ‘Irish Reinette’

Fruit; medium size, oblong, five-sided and ribbed. Skin; yellowish green, strewed with minute russety dots, dull brownish red next the sun. Flesh; greenish yellow, crisp, very juicy, brisk and acid flavour. [HP pl.LIX/1878].

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