PEAR APPLE There have been various ‘pear apples’, dating back to Parkinson in 1629 and Evelyn in 1669. This one is an old variety obtained by John and Helen Hempsall from an old collection at Ranworth Nursery. We are grateful for their sending us scions. A curious, rather than a top quality apple. It is ripe mid-season and lasts to October but soon goes soft and mealy. A pleasant dessert apple if caught in time. It is more likely to have been used as an early cider variety. The narrow and long apples are yellow skinned, slightly ribbed and often have a ‘waist’ in the middle. It may possibly be the Pear Apple briefly described, in the London Horticultural Society catalogue of 1842, as green, obovate, small, cider, ‘poor or indifferent quality’, season November. The description is credible, if not exact.
  

 
PEASGOOD'S NONSUCH Raised from a seed, in 1853, by Mrs Peasgood when she was a child living in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Later she moved the tree to Stamford. A middle season culinary apple, with very large fruit, which cooks to a sweet, delicate puree and makes particularly good baked apples. Once popular for exhibitions, the fruit is quite showy, having greenish-gold skin with an orange flush and broad red stripes. Spreading trees which crop best in deep, rich loam. Bunyard and Thomas reported that a single apple can weigh 26 ounces.

 

PEGGY’S PRIDE Another of the apples bred by F.W. Wastie of Eynsham, Oxfordshire, crossing Allington Pippin with Golden Spire. It was first recorded when received by the National Fruit Trials in 1944, though probably raised in the 1920’s. It was named after his wife. It is a crisp, juicy, tangy dessert ripe in September and keeping into November. The pale golden yellow skin is blushed red and dotted.

 
PIGEON DE JERUSALEM An apple known in existence in the late 17th century, though it was often confused in the naming and it is uncertain whether the apple known today is the original. There were and still are many ‘Pigeon’ apples. In 1820 it was listed by Alexander Forbes, gardener at Levens Hall nursery, Kendal as Jerusalem Apple which is a synonym of Pigeon de Jerusalem, but also a synonym of Pigeon. The two are distinguished by Pigeon having a bloom on the skin, which is absent in Pigeon de Jerusalem. The flavour is also different. Hogg, though assuming Pigeon and Pomme de Jerusalem were the same, ascribes the name ‘Jerusalem’ to the observation that the four cells in the core, if cut across, ‘are disposed in the form of a cross’, though he notes it is not a permanent character and can also be three or five cells. The apples are long and conical, green and finely striped with red. The flesh is crisp, white and aromatic. Ripe in October and storing until the new year.

 

PIG'S NOSE PIPPIN So called because the top of the conical fruit is flattish and shallow. A small, sweet, late dessert apple, introduced in 1884 and probably originally from Herefordshire. Crisp, aromatic flesh. Good crops. Keeps until January.

 
PINE GOLDEN PIPPIN A nineteenth century dessert apple, first recorded in 1861, when it was sent by Messrs Dickson and Son of Hassendean Burn, near Hawick, Roxburghshire to the RHS gardens at Chiswick, Middlesex. but possibly much older. It has been well known in the south, in the north-west and in Scotland and the borders. The small ribbed fruit is golden yellow and covered with russet. Apples are crisp and juicy, with a distinct flavour of pineapple, and it is described by Hogg as one of the best dessert apples. Ripe in October, storing until December.

 

PITMASTON PINE APPLE A late dessert russet apple raised around 1785 by Mr White, who was steward to Lord Foley of Stoke Edith, Herefordshire. It is thought to have come from a seed of Golden Pippin. Another story is that it was raised by John Williams of Pitmaston in 1825. Small golden apples, produced prolifically and packed with flavours of pineapple and honey. The tree is moderately vigorous, with a good bushy habit and pretty blossom. A heavy cropping biennial.

 
PITMASTON RUSSET NONPAREIL A small late russet dessert apple known since 1818 and raised at Pitmaston, near Worcester. Attractive reddish fruit with russeting and with sweet, nutty flesh. Keeps until January.