THE APPLE. ITS VARIETIES. 209 



with faint streaks of dull red on the shaded side, and entirely covered 

 with deep red on the side next the sun ; but changes by keeping to fine 

 deep yellow, streaked with flesh color on the shaded side ; but of a 

 beautiful, clear, deep red or crimson, on the side next the sun, and 

 strewed all over with small russety dots. Eye, large and open, with 

 short segments, set in a pretty deep, and prominently plaited basin. 

 Stalk, very short, not exceeding a quarter of an inch long, inserted in a 

 deep, funnel-shaped cavity, which is lined with russet. Flesh, yellowish, 

 firm, crisp, juicy, and sugary, with a brisk, poignant, and very pleasant 

 flavor. 



A highly esteemed old English apple, suitable principally for culinary 

 purposes, but also valuable for the dessert ; it is in use from December 

 to the end of April. 



The tree attains about the middle size, is a free and healthy grower, 

 and an excellent bearer. 



This is, I believe, the oldest existing English apple on record. It is 

 noticed as being cultivated in Norfolk, as early as the year 1200, — what 

 evidence against Mr. Knight's theory ! In Blomefield's History of 

 Norfolk, there is mention of a tenure in that county by petty serjeanty, 

 and the payment of two hundred pearmains, and four hogsheads of cider 

 of pearmains into the Exchequer, at the feast of St. Michael, yearly. 

 It is the original of all the Pearmains, a name now applied to a great 

 ■variety of apples. Much doubt has existed as to the origin of this word, 

 and in a communication to the Gardener's Chronicle for 1848, I there 

 stated what I conceived to be its meaning. The early forms in which 

 it was written, will be seen from the synonymes above, they were 

 Pearemaine and Peare-maine. In some early historical works of the 

 same period, I have seen Charlemagne written Charlemaine, the last 

 portion of the word having the same termination as Pearemaine. Now, 

 Charlemagne being derived from Carolus magnus there is every proba- 

 bility that Pearemaine is derived from Pyrus magnus. The signification 

 therefore of Pearmain is the Great Pear Apple, in allusion no doubt, to 

 the varieties known by that name, bearing a resemblance to the form of 

 a pear. 



393. WINTER QUOINING. 



Stnohtmes.— Winter Queening, Eea. Pom. 212. Baii. Hist. ii. 1448. Fors. 

 Treat. 100. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 610. Winter Quiiiin, Nourse Camp. Fel. 

 146. Calville d' Angleterre. LangerEother Himbeerapfel, Diel Kernobst. v. 15. 



Fruit, medium sized, two inches and a quarter wide, and rather more 

 than two inches and a half high ; conical, distinctly five-sided, with 

 five acute angles, extending the whole length of the fruit, and terminat- 

 ing at the crown in five equal, and prominent crowns. Skin, pale-green, 

 almost entirely covered with red, which is striped and mottled with 

 deeper red, and marked on the shaded side with a thin coat of russet. 

 Eye, small, and closed, set in a narrow and angular cavity. Stalk, 

 about half-an-inch long and slender, deeply inserted in a narrow and 

 angular cavity. Flesh, greenish-yellow, tender, soft, not very juicy, 

 sugary, rich, and perfumed. 



A good old English apple, suitable either for the dessert or culinary 

 purposes ; it is in use from November to May. 



P. 



