FRANSCHE REINETTE.
einette de France grise.
Reinette, Fransche (Beschrijving der vruchtsoorten [Description of fruit varieties], first series, N°. 76).
Fransche grauwe Reinette.
Gouvernante (in the Westland, province of ZuidHolland).
N.B. The following names are not synonyms: the Reinette france (knoop, table IX), the Reinette fransche or französische Edel-Reinette (SERRURIER, I, page 189), the Edelreinette or Reinette franche by obeRdieck (Handbuch, IV, page 105), the französische Edel-Reinette (Deutsches Obstcabinet, issue 3, table 6). They are probably identical with the Blanke Fransche Reinette. Likewise, the Reinette grise or graauwe Reinette (KNOOP, table IX), the Graue Französische Reinette of OBERDIECK (Jahrbuch, IV, page 335) and the one of L. MÜLLER (Obstk., No. 55, page 53) should not be identified with our apple, but presumably with the dubbele zure grauwe Reinette (N°. 15). The only variety which has some similarity with our Fransche Reinette, is the Parker's Pepping described by OBERDIECK (Handbuch, I, page 339).
Its origin is unknown, but we have known and grown this apple since time out of mind.
SHAPE: very regular.
SIZE: fourth grade.
EYE: half closed, small, grey sepals, in a rather deep, saucer-shaped, russeted basin.
STALK: short, stiff, woody, brown, 15 - 20 mms long, in a rather deep russeted cavity.
The COLOUR is green, covered with a grey-brown russeting, a dull brown-red blush at the sun side, usually with small warts and star-shaped grey lenticels. Rough skin.
The FLESH is yellowish white, firm, very juicy, fine, with a very pleasant aroma. The core is medium sized and pips are large and light brown.
TIME OF USE: February - May; first grade for dessert.
The TREE is a moderate grower; the twigs are thin, upright, brown, with a olive-coloured glow, round, light grey lenticels; the buds are medium sized, pointed; the shoots are violet-brown and woolly; leaf stalks are 45 mms; leaves are oval, pointed, dark green, glossy, bending upwards; serrating is rather deep and irregular.
This variety requires a warm place and is suitable for the shapes of pyramid, espalier and dwarf tree.