391. WINTER MAJETIN.—Lind.
- Identification.—Lind. in [Hort. Trans.] vol. iv. 68. [Hort. Soc. Cat.] ed. 3, n. 876. [Lind. Guide], 58.
Fruit, medium sized; roundish-ovate, with ribs round the crown. Skin, smooth, dark green, covered with thin dull brownish-red on the side next the sun. Eye, small and open, set in a deep basin, which is much furrowed and plaited. Stalk, three quarters of an inch long, slender, inserted in a deep and narrow cavity, which is lined with russet. Flesh, greenish-white, firm, crisp, brisk, and pleasantly flavored.
A first-rate culinary apple, bearing a considerable resemblance to the London Pippin, but does not change to yellow color by keeping as that variety does. It is in use from January to May.
This variety is, strictly speaking, a Norfolk apple, where it is much grown for the local markets. It was first made public by Mr. George Lindley, who introduced it to the notice of the London Horticultural Society. In the “Guide to the Orchard,” it is stated that the Aphis Lanigera or “Meally Bug,” so destructive to most of our old orchard trees, seems to be set at defiance by the Majetin. “An old tree now growing in a garden belonging to Mr. William Youngman, of Norwich, which had been grafted about three feet high in the stem, has been for many years attacked by this insect below the grafted part, but never above it; the limbs and branches being to this day perfectly free, although all the other trees in the same garden have been infested more or less with it.”
The tree is a most abundant bearer.
392. WINTER PEARMAIN.—Ger.
- Identification.—[Ger. Herb.] [Aust. Treat.] 54. [Raii. Hist.] ii. 1448. Lang Pom. 134. t. lxxviii. f. 4. [Gibs. Fr. Gard.] 356. [Fors. Treat.] 130. [Lind. Guide], 84. [Hort. Soc. Cat.] ed. 3, n. 563. [Rog. Fr. Cult.] 76.
- Synonymes.—Great Pearmaine, Park. Par. 587. Pearmain. [Evelyn Pom.] 65. Peare-maine, [Husb. Fr. Orch.] Old Pearmain, [Pom. Heref.] t. 29. Parmain d’Hiver, [Knoop. Pom.] 64. t. xi. Pèpin Parmain d’Hiver, Ibid. 131. Pepin Parmain d’Angleterre, Ibid. Grauwe of Blanke Pepping Van Der Laan, Ibid. Peremenes Ibid. Zeeuwsche Pepping, Ibid. Duck’s Bill, in some parts of Sussex. Druë Permein d’Angleterre, [Quint. Inst.] 202.
- Figures.—[Pom. Heref.] t. 29. [Ron. Pyr. Mal.] pl. xxii. f. 2.
Fruit, large, three inches and a quarter wide, and about the same in height; of a true pearmain shape, somewhat five sided towards the crown. Skin, smooth and shining, at first of a greenish-yellow, marked with faint streaks of dull red on the shaded side, and entirely covered with deep red on the side next the sun; but changes by keeping to fine deep yellow, streaked with flesh color on the shaded side; but of a beautiful, clear, deep red or crimson, on the side next the sun, and strewed all over with small russety dots. Eye, large and open, with short segments, set in a pretty deep, and prominently plaited basin. Stalk, very short, not exceeding a quarter of an inch long, inserted in a deep, funnel-shaped cavity, which is lined with russet. Flesh, yellowish, firm, crisp, juicy, and sugary, with a brisk, poignant, and very pleasant flavor.