Plants in the Hortus

Malus domestica ‘Nonpareil’

‘Fruit, medium sized; roundish, broad at the base and narrowing towards the apex. Skin, yellowish-green, covered with large patches of thin grey russet, and dotted with small brown russety dots, with occasionally a tinge of dull red, on the side next the sun. Eye, rather prominent, very slightly if at all depressed, half open, with broad segments which are reflexed at the tips. Stalk, an inch long, set in a round and pretty deep cavity which is lined with russet. Flesh, greenish, delicate, crisp, rich, and juicy, abounding in a particularly rich, vinous, and aromatic flavor.’ [Hogg p.145/1851].

Fruit; medium size, roundish, broad at the base and apt to be bigger on one side. Skin; yellowish green with large patches of thin grey russet, dotted with brown russet, dull red next the sun. Flesh; greenish white, delicate, crisp, rich, vinous and aromatic flavour. [HP].

Malus domestica ‘Norfolk Beaufin’

‘Fruit middling size, flattish, of a deep red and pale green colour; the flesh is firm and savoury; the tree hardy, upright, and a good bearer; fruit excellent for use in the kitchen, and highly esteemed for the dessert. It ripens in November, and is frequently to be obtained in England in July following.’ [FCM p.44/1845].

Malus domestica ‘Northwood Bitter-sweet’

‘A large Somersetshire apple, white and red striped. The tree is large and generally bears well. It is sold chiefly as table fruit.’ [HP].

Malus domestica ‘Pine Apple Russet’

‘Fruit, medium sized, two inches and three quarters wide, and two inches and a half high; roundish-ovate, with broad obtuse angles on its sides. Skin, pale greenish-yellow, almost covered with white specks on one part, and rough thick yellow russet on the other, which extends round the stalk. Eye, small, with short connivent segments, placed in a shallow, plaited basin. Stalk, an inch long, inserted half its length in an uneven cavity. Flesh, very pale yellow, tender, crisp, very juicy, sugary, brisk and richly aromatic.’ [Hogg p156/1851].

Malus domestica ‘Red Cluster’

‘A small, red. Somersetshire apple, a late variety, which gives excellent assistance in making cider from mixed fruit. The tree bears freely.’ [HP].

Malus domestica ‘Reinette de Canada’

‘Fruit, large, three inches and a half wide, and three inches deep; oblato-conical, with prominent ribs originating at the eye, and diminishing as they extend downwards towards the stalk. Skin, greenish-yellow, with a tinge of brown on the side next the sun, covered with numerous brown russety dots, and reticidations of russet. Eye, large, partially closed, with short segments, and set in a rather deep and plaited basin. Stalk, about an inch long, slender, inserted in a deep, wide, and generally smooth cavity. Flesh, yellowish-white, firm, juicy, brisk, and highly flavored. An apple of first-rate quality, either for culinary or dessert use; it is in season from November to April.’ [Hogg p.167/1851].

Malus domestica Ribston Pippin’

‘Fruit of medium size, roundish, and partially depressed; of a pale yellow colour, tinged with red; pulp slightly acid, and of fine flavour: ripens in November, and continues till April. It is one of the most popular dessert apples in England’. Listed under Winter Fruit, i.e. considered a good storing apple. [FCM p.45/1845]. Usually at its best between November to December but will keep until March. Produces a vigorous tree and is a good bearer. [HP pl.XXV/1878.]

Malus domestica ‘Robinson’s Pippin’

‘This excellent Apple has long been cultivated in the Royal Gardens at Kew, where it is considered to rank amongst the best of those varieties which are capable of being preserved for the dessert through the winter months.  The tree is healthy and vigorous, seldom failing to produce fruit in abundance.  The blossom is small, like that of the Nonpareil, fruit small, oval, flattened at both extremities, resembling in form the old Golden Pippin, but larger.  The eye is well formed, open, and sunk in a broad but shallow cavity.  The stalk generally short, slender, and tough.  Skin green, rather approaching to brownish yellow when well exposed, with a large portion of russet brown, particularly round the eye.  The fruit is always produced in clusters at the end of the branches, often eight or ten together.  The flesh is of a greenish colour, breaking, tender, well flavoured, juicy, and sweet, when ripe, which is not earlier than in January, and it is in great perfection until March, or even later.’  [PL pl.42/1818].  

Malus domestica ‘Rock Pippin’

Probably synonymous with ‘New Rock Pippin’. ‘Fruit, of medium size; round. Skin, dull green on the shaded side, and brownish-red where exposed to the sun, entirely covered with brown russet. Eye, deeply set in a round basin. Stalk, short. Flesh, yellow, firm, sweet, rich, and perfumed with the flavor of anise. A dessert apple of first-rate quality; in use from January to May.’ [Hogg p.142/1851]. 

Malus domestica ‘Royal Codlin’

Fruit; large, conical with a broad base. Skin; greenish-yellow with a red blush next the sun, mottled with deeper colours, and covered with fine spots of thin russet. flesh; white, tender, sweet, acidulated flavour. [HP].

Malus domestica ‘Royal Jack’

I have found no description of this apple in the contemporary literature.

Malus domestica ‘Royal Russet’

Fruit; large, roundish, somewhat flattened. Skin; covered with rough brown russet on a yellowish-green ground colour, brownish next the sun. Flesh; greenish-yellow, tender, crisp, brisk, juicy, sugary. [HP].

Malus domestica ‘Rymer’

‘Fruit, large, three inches and a quarter wide, and two inches and three quarters high; roundish, and flattened, with five obscure ribs, on the sides, extending into the basin of the eye. Skin, smooth, thinly strewed with redish-brown dots, and a few faint streaks of pale red on the shaded side ; and of a beautiful deep red, covered with yellowish-grey dots, on the side next the sun. Eye, open, with broad reflexed segments, set in a round and moderately deep basin. Stalk, short, inserted in a round and deep cavity, lined with rough russet, which extends in ramifications over the base. Flesh, yellowish, tender, and pleasantly sub-acid. A good culinary apple, in use from October to Christmas.’ [Hogg p.177/1851].

Malus domestica ‘Sam Young’

‘Fruit, large, three inches and a quarter wide, and two inches and three quarters high; roundish, narrowing towards the eye, and angular on its sides. Skin, yellowish-green, covered with large patches of ashy colored russet, and in dry warm seasons, sometimes tinged with red. Eye, open, set in a rather shallow and plaited basin. Stalk, an inch long, slender, inserted in a shallow cavity. Flesh, yellowish-white, firm, juicy, sugary, and richly flavored. A dessert apple of first-rate quality; it is in use from December to March. The tree is a strong and vigorous grower, and an excellent bearer.’ [Hogg p.178/1851].

Malus domestica ‘Scarlet Nonpareil’

‘Fruit middle-sized, larger than the old Nonpareil, about two inches and a half deep, and three inches in diameter, roundish, without any angles on its sides. Eye shallow, placed in a regularly-formed depression, surrounded with very small plaits. Stalk variable in length, sometimes nearly an inch long, sometimes a thick fleshy knob. Skin deep red next the sun, sprinkled with pale brown dots; the shaded part yellowish green, passing off into streaks towards the junction of the two colours. Flesh firm, yellowish white, juicy, rich, and very excellent.’ [George Lindley – Orchard guide p.98/1831].