lucombe’s pine-apple pippin. 
word “Wassail” is Saxon, and means “health to you.” The 
preparation of the wassail bowl was spiced and sugared ale, 
with toast and roasted apples ; which is still occasionally to be 
met with in the north of England also, as an attendant on 
Christmas festivities. In Devonshire, however, it was the 
custom to wassail the Apple-trees; that is, to drink the health 
of them in cider, on Christmas eve, on New-year's eve, or, 
agreeably to ancient custom, on the eve of the Epiphany. In 
Gloucestershire, too, it is remarked, in “Time’s Telescope,” the 
wassailers still carry about a great bowl, dressed up with gar- 
lands and ribbons, singing doggrel verses, chieHy soliciting 
additions to their wassail bowl. In the provincial Glossary of 
Grose it is mentioned that the custom called “Wassail” was 
that of throwing toast, and pouring out libations, to Apple- 
trees, for proving fruitful ; and it seems to be a relic of the 
heathen sacrifice to Pomona. 
The eye of this Apple is closed b}' the segments of the calyx, 
which are narrow and acute. It rests in a narrow bason, sur- 
rounded by small plaits. Stem short and thick, inserted in a 
shallow narrow cavity. Skin yellow, finely specked, and the 
exposed side sometimes having a softened shade of orange, 
gradually blending into the prevailing pale yellow colour. 
Flesh exceedingly tender, smooth, sweet, tolerably juicy, and 
possessing a delicate pine-ajiple flavour. 
Our drawing of this Apple was made in the first week of 
January; it was then perfectly sound, but its flavour was 
scarcely so fine as it had been a few weeks earlier ; so that its 
season may be stated to be November and December. The 
Pine-apple Pippin is chiefly known in the West of England; 
we have, therefore, the greater desire to publish it, for the 
benefit of a large class of horticulturists residing in other parts 
of Britain ; to many of whom, ive are quite sure, it will prove 
highly acceptable. 
