A dessert apple of second-rate quality; in use from November to April.
385. WHORLE PIPPIN.—H.
- Synonymes.—Summer Thorle, [Hort. Soc. Cat.] ed. 3, n. 830. Watson’s New Nonesuch, acc. Ibid. Thorle Pippin, [Leslie & Anders, Cat.] Thoral Pippin, acc. [Ron. Pyr. Mal.]
- Figure.—[Ron. Pyr. Mal.] pl. ii. f. 3.
Fruit, below medium size, two inches and a quarter wide at the middle, and an inch and three quarters high; oblate, handsome, and regularly formed. Skin, smooth, shining, and glossy, almost entirely covered with fine bright crimson, which is marked with broken streaks of darker crimson; but on any portion which is shaded, it is of a fine clear yellow, a little streaked with pale crimson. Eye, scarcely at all depressed, large, half open, with broad, flat segments, which frequently appear as if rent from each other by an over-swelling of the fruit; and set in a very shallow basin, which is often very russety, and deeply and coarsely cracked. Stalk, a quarter of an inch long, inserted in a wide cavity. Flesh, yellowish-white, firm, crisp, and very juicy, with a brisk, refreshing, and pleasant flavor.
A beautiful little summer dessert apple, of first-rate quality; ripe in August. In the south it is but little known, but in Scotland it is to be met with in almost every garden and orchard.
In all probability the word Thorle is a corruption of Whorle, which is no doubt the correct name of this apple. The name is supposed to be derived from its resemblance to the whorle, which was the propelling power, or rather impetus of the spindle, when the distaff and spindle was so much in use.
386. WICKHAM’S PEARMAIN.—H.
- Synonymes.—Wick Pearmain, [Hort. Soc. Cat.] ed. 3, p. 31.
Fruit, small, two inches wide, and about two inches high; pearmain-shaped, and quite flat at the base. Skin, yellow, tinged and dotted with red on the shaded side; but bright red on the side next the sun, and marked with patches and specks of russet round the eye. Eye, large and open, with long acuminate segments, reflexed, and set in a round, even, and plaited basin. Stalk, half-an-inch long, fleshy, inserted without any depression. Flesh, greenish-yellow, tender, crisp, juicy, sugary, and highly flavored.
An excellent dessert apple; in use from October to December. It was raised by a Mr. Wickham, of Wick, near Winchester. In the catalogue of the London Horticultural Society, it is called “Wick Pearmain,” but as the name I have adopted is that by which it is best known in Hampshire, I prefer retaining it.