A pretty good apple of second-rate quality, more suitable for culinary purposes than the dessert. It is in use from October to Christmas.
The tree is a healthy and free grower, attaining about the middle size, and is a free and early bearer, being generally well set with fruit buds. It requires a rich soil and warm situation.
There is another apple totally different from this to which the name of Drap d’Or is applied.—See [Fenouillet Jaune].
97. DREDGE’S FAIR MAID OF WISHFORD.—Fors.
- Identification.—[Fors. Treat.] 99. [Rog. Fr. Cult.] 55.
Fruit, medium sized, two inches and three quarters wide, and two inches and a quarter high; oblato-cylindrical, with obtuse angles on the sides. Skin, yellow, covered with large patches and reticulations of thin brown russet, which is strewed with rougher russety freckles, and tinged with orange and a few streaks of red next the sun. Eye, rather large, with long acuminate segments, which almost close it; and set in a wide, angular, and pretty deep basin. Stalk, short, inserted in a narrow, angular and smooth cavity, which is tinged with green. Flesh, yellowish, firm, brisk, juicy, sugary, and richly flavored.
An excellent apple for culinary purposes, and even worthy of the dessert. It is in use from December to March.
This, with the following variety, was either raised or first brought into notice, by a Mr. William Dredge, of Wishford, near Salisbury. In a letter dated November, 1802, which is in my possession, he writes to the late Mr. Forsyth with specimens of these varieties, and of this he says, “not in eating till Easter, great bearer, most excellent flavor.”
The tree is a free grower, attaining about the middle size, and is an excellent bearer.