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dixiegrrrrl

(60,011 posts)
Sun Jun 14, 2015, 09:26 PM Jun 2015

Jaw dropping list of apple varieties grown in Virginia estate in 1736

Found a marvelous site of Gardening History.
Contains a list of all plants grown by Virginian William Byrd II's in 1736.
and this is just the apple trees:

Golden russet
Summer pearmain
Winter pearmain
Fall harvest apple
Winter queening
Lader-goller
Juntin' apple
Golden pippin
Carpendich
Red streaks
Jungferen
Long-stem apple
Red apple
Kabapffel
Green apple
French rennets

Very informative site ....http://americangardenhistory.blogspot.com/

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Jaw dropping list of apple varieties grown in Virginia estate in 1736 (Original Post) dixiegrrrrl Jun 2015 OP
I love botanical history. Of the apples on that list, I've eaten and really enjoyed NRaleighLiberal Jun 2015 #1
Red Delicious are only good for Christmas displays--might as well have wax apples. NCarolinawoman Jun 2015 #2
but aren't they purty! I've not had a RD in decades. We in NC have a great apple expert NRaleighLiberal Jun 2015 #3
ohh..does have a web site or books or ...? dixiegrrrrl Jun 2015 #4
this looks like a good story on him NRaleighLiberal Jun 2015 #5
my friend who is an organic apple grower recommends mopinko Jun 2015 #7
The russet was my mom's favorite apple. She had a tree on the farm applegrove Jun 2015 #6
Question for a friend bigmonkey Jun 2015 #8
I would Google at this point dixiegrrrrl Jun 2015 #9

NRaleighLiberal

(60,465 posts)
1. I love botanical history. Of the apples on that list, I've eaten and really enjoyed
Sun Jun 14, 2015, 09:33 PM
Jun 2015

Golden Russet and Winter Pearmain. I suspect many others are no more. (the great rush to the perfect looking, corky/punky, god awful Red Delicious of today has left mayhem in its path...)

NCarolinawoman

(2,825 posts)
2. Red Delicious are only good for Christmas displays--might as well have wax apples.
Sun Jun 14, 2015, 10:11 PM
Jun 2015

Horrible to eat. MEALY and TASTELESS.

NRaleighLiberal

(60,465 posts)
3. but aren't they purty! I've not had a RD in decades. We in NC have a great apple expert
Sun Jun 14, 2015, 10:16 PM
Jun 2015

Lee Calhoun - probably knows more about southern apple varieties than anyone. I've yet to meet him - not sure if apples and tomatoes mix!

dixiegrrrrl

(60,011 posts)
4. ohh..does have a web site or books or ...?
Sun Jun 14, 2015, 10:40 PM
Jun 2015

Our winters are changing and I am tempted to try cool spring vegies, but would also love a decent apple.

We gotta start thinking of growing more foods locally.

I am getting too old to enjoy the kind of gardening I did when I had my 15 acre produce place, but I am encouraging a friend who is very gung ho and who freely shares her bounty.
We are eating organic fresh picked Silver Queen corn, several varieties of old timey tomatoes, lots of zucchini, green beans this week, thanks to her.

NRaleighLiberal

(60,465 posts)
5. this looks like a good story on him
Sun Jun 14, 2015, 10:54 PM
Jun 2015
http://wunc.org/post/preserving-old-time-southern-apples

The real current apple expert that I meet each year when speaking at Monticello is Tom Burford - he had lots of his trees at Albemarle Cider Works near Charlottesville.

You can also order great heirloom apples each fall from Tree Mendus fruits in Michigan

http://www.treemendus-fruit.com/

bigmonkey

(1,798 posts)
8. Question for a friend
Mon Jun 15, 2015, 10:29 PM
Jun 2015

Anybody know of the Burlington Pippin, a late-19th century favorite centered in Burlington VT? Or know where I could find out about it? My friend is interested in the history, and also if it has survived.

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