PRAAGSCHE REINETTE.
einette, Praagsche (Beschrijving der vruchtsoorten [Description of fruit varieties], first series, N°. 82).
Sykehouse Russet (hogg, the Fruit Manual, 3rd. ed., page 45).
Russet Sykehause (Catalogue of the Fruits, N°. 752).
Syke Hause.
Englische Spital-Reinette (Handbuch, I, page 155; lucas, Württ Obsts., Table VI; L. MÜLLER , Obstk., N°. 35 , page 47).
Kleine grüne Reinette (along the river Main in Germany).
Gelbe Reinette (near Coblenz).
Mennonisten Reinette (diel).
Reinette Constantia (in the area of Constanz, according to jahn, Verzeichniss etc.).
The origin of this apple is England; more specific, and according to British authors from the village Syke-house in Yorkshire, from which some synonyms are derived; many varieties in England carry the name Russet, or Pippin, or Reinette etc.. We have grown this variety here from time out of mind under the name of Praagsche Reinette. Of late, after studying the Sykehouse Russet from London and the Engelsche Spital Reinette from Mr. oberdieck from Jeinsen (Germany), it has become clear to us that these varieties are identical. We will stick to the name Praagsche Reinette, the designation under which it has been distributed in our country for so many years already.
SHAPE: regular.
SIZE: fourth grade.
EYE: open or half closed; long sepals which stay green, in a shallow basin surrounded by very small ribs.
STALK: 20 mms long, woody, usually bent, greenish brown, in a heavily russeted cavity.
The COLOUR of the thick and rough skin is greenish yellow, with a slight flush of brown-red at the sun side, nearly always covered with a thin, cinnamon-coloured russeting, the ground colour shining through.
The FLESH is whitish yellow, very fine, firm, juicy, pleasantly sweetish sour, excellent. The core is medium sized, pips are beautiful, perfect and light brown.
TIME OF USE: February - April; first grade for dessert, excellent for drying.
The TREE is a strong grower in its youth, very fertile and will therefore not be very tall. The twigs are long, strong, dirty brown with some russeting and occasional small lenticels; the buds are medium, woolly, placed on little ribs; the shoots are very woolly at the top; leaf stalks are 30 - 55 mms long, thick, grooved; the leaves are big, oval and oblong with a pointed, twisted tip, serrated, coarse and deep.
Can be recommended for any shape, excellent for the orchard; a very good apple for the market.