By some considered as a dessert apple; but of inferior quality. Mr. Thompson thinks it may, perhaps, do for cider; it is in use from November to March.
The tree is a very abundant bearer.
This is a Jersey apple, and has for a long period been cultivated in the orchards of that Island. It was transmitted to the gardens of the London Horticultural Society, by Major General Le Couteur, of Jersey, in the year 1822.
264. PETWORTH NONPAREIL.—Hort.
- Identification.—[Hort. Soc. Cat.] ed. 3, n. 477. [Salisb. Orch.] 134.
- Synonyme and Figure.—Green Nonpareil, [Ron. Pyr. Mal.] 67, pl. xxxiv. f. 4.
This variety very closely resembles the old Nonpareil; but is rather larger; and though it possesses the flavor of the old variety, it is not nearly so rich. The tree is hardy and an excellent bearer. It was raised at Petworth, in Sussex, at the seat of Lord Egremont.
265. PIGEON.—Knoop.
- Identification.—[Knoop. Pom.] 62, tab. xi. [Duh. Arb. Fruit], i. 306, t. xii. f. 3. [Hort. Soc. Cat.] ed. 3, n. 582.
- SYNONYMES.—Jerusalem, [Quint. Inst.] i. 201. [Lang. Pom.] 134. t. lxxvi. f. 4. Cœur de Pigeon, acc Duhamel. Pigeon Rouge, [Diel. Kernobst.] iii. 58. Gros Cœur de Pigeon, [Filass. Tab.] Passe-Pomme, acc. Knoop. Duif Apfel, Knoop. Rother Taubenapfel, [Mayer. Pom. Franc.] No. 28, tab. xviii. Rothe Taubenapfel, Sickler. Obstgärt. v. 323. t. 16. Arabian Apple, acc. [Hort. Soc. Cat.] ed. 3.
- Figures.—[Jard. Fruit], ed. 2. pl. 98. [Ron. Pyr. Mal.] pl. xxiii. f. 1.
Fruit, medium sized, two inches and a half wide, and two inches and three quarters high; conical and angular. Skin, membranous, shining, pale yellow with a greenish tinge, which it loses as it attains maturity; but covered with fine clear red on the side next the sun, and strewed all over with minute russety dots and imbedded white specks; the whole surface is covered with a bluish bloom, from which circumstance it receives the name of Pigeon, being considered similar to the plumage of a dove. Eye, open, with erect segments, prominently set in a narrow and plaited basin. Stalk, very short, inserted in a deep and russety cavity. Flesh, white, tender, soft and juicy, pleasantly flavored, but not at all rich.