Remarks on the Ribston Pippin. 403 



Art. II. Remarks on the Ribston Pippin Apple, location, 6^c. 

 By J. Av". Russell, Newton, Mass. 



The Ribston pippin apple is one of the best for either 

 eating or baking, and continues in use from October to 

 April. The first tree of this much esteemed fruit was 

 found in a wild state in a deer park, and was cultivated 

 and grown to perfection at Ribston Hall, near Knares- 

 borough, Yorkshire, England. Shape, globular; a little 

 streaked towards the sun, and yellow on the other side, 

 sometimes a little russeted at the crown; flesh, pale, firm 

 and sugary, agreeably acid, with a rich, aromatic flavor. 

 It is said that there are two varieties of this apple in some 

 of the gardens in this vicinity — one of an oblong shape and 

 larger than the one I have described. The apple that 

 sometimes resembles the true Ribston pippin is probably 

 the Blenheim pippin. 



This choice fruit, which is so highly esteemed in Eng- 

 land for its good qualities, is not much sought after in this 

 country. The Baldwin apple, that is so universally culti- 

 vated, is undoubtedly an inferior fruit to the Ribston pip- 

 pin ; but it may be said that the Baldwin is a great bearer 

 and the other a shy one. I have seen for several years, at 

 the estate of the late John Prince, Esq., Jamaica Plain, 

 Roxbury, trees heavily laden with fruit of this fine variety. 



The location is worthy of notice, and the fault in the one 

 last mentioned was, that the trees grew on a flat, level 

 plain, and the fruit ripened about three weeks too early — 

 therefore did not keep so well through the winter as those 

 that were not so early matured. Tn fact, the situation that 

 is not unfrequently supposed to be the most eligible one, 

 experience finds to be the reverse. A southern aspect is 

 often preferred, which is decidedly the most unfavorable 

 one that can be selected for this particular apple. I believe 

 we have much to learn in the choice of the most favorable 

 localities, before we shall be successful in the cultivation of 

 some of the most superior varieties of apples not natives of 

 America. A northwest slope I should prefer to any other 

 for reasons thus : the tree would not start to grow so early 

 in the spring ; the roots would not sufter so much with the 



