APPLES. 93 



This hai al\va\*s been regarded as a Hertfordshire apple, and some of the 

 old authors speak of it as being in its greatest perfection when grown in that 

 county. It has been esteemed as one o*' the finest apples. Worlidge, in 1676, 

 savs, " It is to be preferred in our plantations for all occasions." Kllis, in his 

 " Modern Husbandman," in 1744, says, "The Golden Rennet, when of the largest 

 sort, may be truly said to be the farmer's greatest favourite apple, because when 

 all others miss bearing, this generally stands his friend, and bears him large 

 quantities on one tiee." 



GOLDEN RUSSET (St. Leonard's Nonpareil}. Fruit, medium 

 si/ed, two inches and three-quarters wide, and two inches and a quarter 

 high ; ovate. Skin, thick, covered with dingy yellow russet, which is 

 rough, thick, and scaly on the shaded side and round the base, and 

 sometimes with a bright flame of varnished red on the side next the sun. 

 Eye, small and closed, or half open, with erect convergent segments, set 

 in a prominently plaited basin. Stamens, median ; tube, conical. Stalk, 

 very short, inserted in an uneven cavity, and not protruding beyond the 

 base. Flesh, pale yellow, firm, crisp, sugary, and aromatic, but not 

 abounding in juice. Cells, obovate ; axile, closed. 



An excellent dessert apple of first-rate quality ; in use from Decem- 

 ber to March. 



The tree is healthy and an excellent bearer, but requires a warm 

 situation to bring the fruit to perfection. 



This is another of our old English apples. Worlidge calls it the Aromatic, or 

 Golden Russeting, ' it hath no compear, it being of a gold-colour coat, under a 

 russet hair, with some warts on it. It lies over the winter, and is, without dispute, 

 the most pleasant apple that grows, having a most pleasant aromatic hautgust, 

 and melting in the mouth." It is called St. Leonard's Nonpareil about Horsham 

 from being grown under that name at Leonard's-lee, near that town. 



Golden Russet Nonpareil. See Nonpareil. 



GOLDEN SPIRE (Tom Matthews). Fruit, large, two inches and 

 three-quarters wide, and three inches and a quarter high ; conical, even 

 in outline, with a slight waist towards the apex, and ribbed round the 

 eye. Skin, smooth and shining, pale straw-coloured where it is shaded, 

 but of a thin golden colour, tinged with pale orange, where exposed to 

 the sun. Eye, rather deeply sunk in a deep and angular basin, with 

 divergent segments, which are sometimes quite reflexed. Stamens, basal ; 

 tube, conical. Stalk, half an inch long, slender, set in a deep and some- 

 what uneven cavity. Flesh, tender, with an agreeable acidity. Cells, 

 elliptical ; abaxile. 



A fine solid-fleshed apple ; in use up to December. It is an excellent 

 cooking apple, and I am told it is used in Gloucestershire for cider under 

 the name of Tom Matthews. 



Golden Yining. See Hubbard's Pearmain. 



GOLDEN WINTER PEARMAIN (King of the Pippins ; Hamp- 

 shire Yellow; Jones's Southampton Pippin}. Fruit, medium sized, 

 two inches and a half wide, and two and a quarter high ; abrupt Pear- 



