THE APPLE. ITS VARIETIES, 175 



A fine old English apple, suitable chiefly for culinary purposes, and 

 useful also in the dessert. It comes into use in November and Decem- 

 ber, and continues till March. 



The tree attains the middle size, is a free and vigorous grower, very 

 hardy, and an excellent bearer. 



In the Horticultural Society's Catalogue this is called the old Pearmain, 

 but this name is applicable to the Winter Pearmain. Rea is the first who 

 notices the Royal Pearmain, and he says " it is a much bigger and better 

 tasted apple than the common kind." The Royal Pearmain of some 

 nurseries is a very different variety from this, and will be found described 

 under Summer Pearmain. 



308. ROYAL REINETTE.— Hort. 



Identification. — Hovt. Trans, vol. iv. p. 529. Hort, Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 692. 

 Lind. Guide, 82. 



Fruit, large ; conical. Skin, yellow, smooth and glossy, strewed all 

 over with russety spots ; stained and striped with brilliant red on the side 

 next the sun. Eye, large and open, set in an even and shallow basin. 

 Stalk, very short, inserted in a very narrow and shallow cavity. Flesh, 

 pale yellow, firm and tender, juicy and sugary, with a brisk and pleasant 

 flavor. 



A very good apple for culinary purposes, and second-rate for the des- 

 sert ; it is in use from December to April. 



The tree is an abundant bearer, and is extensively grown in the western 

 parts of Sussex, where it is esteemed a first-rate fruit. 



309. ROYAL RUSSET.— Miller. 



Identification. — Mill. Diet. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 749. Fors. Treat. 125. 

 Rog. Fr. Cult. 108. Lind. Guide, 96. 



Synonyme. — Passe Pomme de Canada, ace. Hort. Soc. Cat. Reinette de Canada 

 Grise, Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 1, 870. Reinette de Canada Platte, Ibid. 871. Leather 

 Coat, Laws. Orch. 65. Raii. Hist. 1448. 



Figure. — Ron. Pyr. Mai. pi. xix. f. 1. 



Fruit, large, three inches and a half wide, and two inches and three 

 quarters high ; roundish, somewhat flattened and angular. Skin, covered 

 with rough brown russet, which has a brownish tinge on the side next 

 the sun ; some portions only of the ground color are visible, which is 

 yellowish-green. Eye, small and closed, set in a narrow and rather shal- 

 low basin. Stalk, half an-inch long, inserted in a wide and deep cavity. 

 Flesh, greenish-yellow, tender, crisp, brisk, juicy and sugary. 



A most excellent culinary apple of first-rate quality ; it is in use from 

 November to May, but is very apt to shrink and become dry, unless, as 

 Mr. Thompson recommends, it is kept in dry sand. 



The tree is of a very vigorous habit, and attains the largest size. It is 

 perfectly hardy and an excellent bearer. 



This has always been a favorite old English variety, being mentioned 

 by Lawson so early as 1597, and much esteemed by almost every subse- 

 quent writer. 



