PLATE L. 
3. CATSHEAD. 
-“ Why should we sing the Thrift, 
Codling, or Pomroy, or of pimpled coat 
The Russet, or the Cat's-head's weighty orb, 
Enormous in its growth, for various uses, 
Tho’ these are meet, tho’ after full repast, 
Are oft required and crown the rich dessert.” 
Phillips' “ Cyder." 
The Cat's-head apple is one of our oldest varieties, and was always highly esteemed for its 
great size and its excellent qualities. Its origin is uncertain, but some pomologists consider it a 
seedling from the old Costard apple. 
Description .—Fruit : large, three inches and a quarter broad and the same in height ; 
oblong, but nearly as broad at the crown as at the base, with prominent ribs on the sides, which 
Qxtend into the basin of the eye, where they terminate in several knobs. Skin : smooth and 
unctuous, pale green with a brownish tinge next the sun, and strewed with minute russety dots. 
Eye : large and open, set in an angular and rather deep basin. Stalk : short, and slender for the 
size of the fruit, inserted in a shallow and angular cavity. Flesh : tender, juicy, and sweet, with a 
pleasant, acid and slightly perfumed flavour. 
I he Cat's-head is one of the oldest and best culinary apples. It is in season from October 
to January, and even to February and March with careful hoarding. In Ellis’ “ Modern 
Husbandman” he says “the Cat's-head is a very useful apple to the farmer, because one of them 
