KLEINER STEINPEPPING.
Illustrations 101a, 101b, 101c.
earmain, rouge d' Hiver d' Angleterre (Beschrijving der vruchtsoorten [Description of fruit varieties], third series, N°. 178).
Kleiner Steinpepping (Handbuch, I, page 323).
According to the Handbuch diel received this variety as the Stone Pippin via Mr. DELLNER from England. Among English authors we find various Stone Pippins (e.g. Catalogue of the Fruits, page 42, No. 803 en 804), but we can not decide if our variety belongs to one of them; our Kleiner Steinpepping has come from Mr. OBERDIECK, whereas Mr. DAUVESSE from Orléans some years ago sent us the Pearmain rouge d'hiver d'Angleterre, which appeared to be identical with the Kleiner Steinpepping, as became clear during expositions and examination of the trees in our nurseries.
SHAPE: generally as our illustration, often as the Handbuch's illustration.
SIZE: fourth grade.
EYE: open or half closed, with broad green, later grey-brown sepals, in a narrow and shallow basin; little ribs around the eye.
STALK: 25 - 25 mms long, woody, in a shallow cavity without russeting, usually pushed aside by a fleshy bump at its base, often no more than a bump, in which case the cavity is almost level.
The COLOUR is as illustrated, with many small, unevenly spread brown and green lenticels; the skin is thin and smooth. We did not see any russeting.
The FLESH is white, with yellow-green veins, especially around the core and near the eye; fine, firm, not crispy, sweetish sour, somewhat aromatic. The core and cells are medium, many coffee-brown, often imperfect pips.
TIME OF USE: December - February (the Handbuch claims "until summer"); first or second grade for dessert.
The TREE grows moderately, makes a nice crown and pyramid and is very fertile. The twigs are slender, mat dark brown with olive and a silvery effect on the skin, small lenticels; the buds are flat; the shoots are rather thick and woolly; leaf stalks are 20 - 30 mms long, thin; the leaves are variable, sometimes broad and round, sometimes oblong and oval, sharply serrated, blunt tip, usually bent upwards and askew.
We have no strong recommendation for this variety; best suitable as a pyramid.