BEDFORDSHIRE FOUNDLING.
edfordshire Foundling (Beschrijving der vruchtsoorten [Description of fruit varieties], third series, N°. 152; hogg, the Fruit Manual; Catalogue of the Fruits, N°. 42; downing , the Fruits, page 207).
Fündling aus Bedfordshire (Handbuch, IV, page 93),
Cambridge Pippin.
Mignon de Bedford (Ann. de Pom., book 6).
Originally from England.
SHAPE: variable, sometimes much broader than the illustrated apple, usually strongly ribbed.
SIZE: first grade.
EYE: sometimes half closed, sometimes closed, with long pointed sepals in a usually medium deep basin; big fruits have a very deep basin. The basin shows a thin russeting.
STALK: short, woody,15 mms long, in a broad, shallow cavity.
The COLOUR is greenish yellow or lemon-yellow, at the sun side golden yellow, many white lenticels and occasional red ringlets; the skin is smooth and thin, some fruits are slightly russeted.
The FLESH is yellowish white, coarse, soft, pleasantly sour. The core is proportionally small, surrounded by green veins; pips are dark brown and usually imperfect.
TIME OF USE: November - February; first grade for the kitchen, and a very decorative apple.
The TREE grows well but irregularly and is very fertile. The twigs are strong, irregular, light olive-brown, with a few, rather round, sometimes a bit angular lenticels. The buds are flat, more broad than high; the shoots are dull-brown, a bit woolly; very large leaves, long, usually wavy, pointed; most leaves are sharply serrated, others shallowly and irregularly. This variety may be recommendable only as a cordon. Because of its irregular growth, it is very difficult to grow a perfect pyramid or espalier, a standard tree would be preferable over the latter two shapes.