BORSDORFER.
orsdorfer (Beschrijving der vruchtsoorten [Description of fruit varieties], first series, N°. 14; knoop , table 10, serrurier, I, page 67).
Edelborsdorfer (Handbuch, I, page 303; L. MÜLLER, Obstk., N°. 30, page 45).
Edler Winter-Borsdorffer.
Witte Leipziger Reinette (knoop).
Marschansker (Austria).
Maschansker
Borsdörffer (Catalogue of the Fruits, N°. 73, page 7; HOGG, the Fruit Manual).
Garret Pippin. — King George III. — Queen's. — Reinette bâtarde.
Reinette de Misnie (downing, the Fruits etc.). — King.
Le grand Bohemian Borsdörffer. — Ganet Pipin.
Reinette d' Allemagne (Ann. de Pom., VIII,with the synonym Postophe d' hiver, which does not belong to this variety but to our N°. 69).
The Handbuch places the origin in Saxony (Germany); the apple is named after a village called Borsdorf; however, there is a Borsdorf near Leipsic and one near Meiszen. The apple is well-known throughout Germany, especially in Bohemia where it was found already in 1450. aeneas silvius, on a mission in that area as a cardinal, had much praise for this variety. When he had become pope Pius II later on, king lobkowitz of Bohemia sent a truckload of this apple to Rome every year.
SHAPE: very regular.
SIZE: fourth grade, a bit larger on young trees.
EYE: open; short sepals in a rather broad, very shallow basin.
STALK: 20 mms, thin, woody, in a deep, russeted cavity.
The COLOUR is white-yellow, attractively shiny red at the sun side, with small, greyish brown lenticels, occasional thin russeted figures; the skin is fine, smooth, glossy, waxy.
The FLESH is fine, firm, crispy, juicy, pleasant, sweetish sour, with a very characteristic aroma; of a lesser quality when the tree is in a very warm location or in a warmer climate. Medium sized core, with light brown perfect pips.
TIME OF USE: December - February; first grade for any purpose, also for applewine.
The TREE is a moderate grower and can reach a very high age; it blossoms late; when young it is moderately fertile, as a full grown tree very fertile. Easy recognizable by its foliage; the twigs are thin, light brown and olive-coloured yellow, with small, oblong lenticels; the buds are small, almost flat; the shoots are blood-red, a bit woolly at the end; leaf stalks are medium, the leaves are very glossy, light green, medium sized, almost smooth-edged.
Especially suitable for standard tree, less for pyramid and espalier; it requires a heavy soil.