APPLES. 57 



Cumberland Favourite. See Grcenuj'x Pippin. 



CURL TAIL. Fruit, medium sized, three inches wide, and the 

 same in height, inclusive of the prominent swelling at the stalk; round 

 and flattened, somewhat obtusely angular, and with furrows at the 

 crown. It has an extraordinary enlargement at the stalk, which curls 

 round like a parrot's beak, which is rtissety. Skin, straw-coloured, 

 without any traces of red or russet. Eye, closed, with convergent 

 segments, set in a rather deep and furrowed basin. Stamens, marginal 

 or median ; tube, deep and wide, conical. Stalk, nearly obsolete, being 

 the point of the fleshy swelling. Flesh, white, very tender, sweet, and 

 agreeably flavoured. Cells, obovate ; abaxile. 



An extraordinary-looking apple, which possesses little merit, and is 

 only fit for cooking. It is in use up till Christmas. 



D'ARCY SPICE (HdMrnr /'/>/</// .- / pring IW>st<m). 



Fruit, medium sized ; roundish or rather oblate, with prominent ribs 

 on the sides, which terminate in four, and sometimes five, considerable 

 ridges at the crown, very much in the character of the London Pippin. 

 It is sometimes of an ovate shape, caused by the stalk being prominent 

 instead of depressed, in which case the ribs on the sides, and ridges 

 round the eye, are less apparent. Skin, deep lively green, changing as 

 it ripens to yellowish green, on the shaded side ; but covered on the side 

 next the sun with dull red, which changes to orange where it blends with 

 the yellow ground ; the whole considerably marked with thin brown 

 russet, and russety dots. Eye, rather large and half open, with short, 

 broad convergent segments, which are reflexed at the tips, and set 

 in a deep angular and plaited basin. Stamens, basal ; tube, wide 

 conical. Stalk, very short, not more than a quarter of an inch long, 

 and inserted the whole of its length in a shallow cavity. Flesh, greenish 

 white, firm, crisp, juicy, sugary, and with a particularly rich and vinous 

 flavour, partaking somewhat of the Nonpareil and Ribston, but par- 

 ticularly the latter. Cells, open, roundish obovate ; axile. 



This is a first-rate dessert apple ; in use in November, and possessing 

 the desirable property of keeping till April or May. 



This valuable apple was discovered in the garden of The Hall, Toleshunt 

 D'Arcy, near Colchester, and many old trees are still existing in that neighbour- 

 hood. It was always known by the name of D'Arcy Spice, or simply Spice Apple, 

 till 1848, when Mr. John Harris, a nurseryman at Broomfield, near Chelmsford, 

 propagated it from grafts taken from one of these old trees, and sold it under the 

 name of Baddow Pippin. A few years later Mr. Kivers, of Sawbridgeworth, put 

 it in his catalogue as Spring Ribston. 



DARLING PIPPIN. Fruit, of medium size ; oblato-conical. Skin, 

 bright lemon yellow, thickly set with small embedded pearly specks. 

 Eye, small, and placed in a shallow basin, surrounded with prominent 

 plaits. Stalk, short and slender, not deeply inserted. Flesh, yellow- 

 ish, firm, crisp, juicy, and sugary, with a pleasant sub-acid flavour. 



A dessert apple of good quality ; in use from November to January. 



This is one of our old English varieties. It is mentioned by Rea in 1665, who 



