DUQUESNE' S PIPPELING.
Illustrations 108a, 108b, 108c.
uquesne' s Pepping (Handbuch, I, page 347).
Pépin Duquesne (andré leroy, Catalogue, Angers 1865).
About the origin we can only say that most probably this excellent apple was cultivated by abbot duquesne from Belgium; this supposition is supported to an extent by Mr. diel, who mentions it as among the varieties coming in from Brussels.
SHAPE: very regular, no variations.
SIZE: third or fourth grade.
EYE: wide open, with long, broad, upright sepals, often imperfect, in a wide, almost level basin, surrounded by little folds.
STALK: short, thick, often with a fleshy knob, in a wide, shallow, saucer-shaped cavity, russeted.
The COLOUR is yellowish green, on ripening greenish yellow, at the sun side covered with a somber red, flamed or striped, sometimes forming various figures, also at the shadow side. Many small lenticels and a thin russeting, which comes in stars and other figures. The skin is smooth, sometimes rough because of the russeting, sometimes a bit waxy.
The FLESH is cream-coloured, with yellow veins, fine, soft, reminding of the Wijker Pippeling, very pleasant, refreshing, aromatic. The core is small with medium sized cells and many perfect, thick, dark brown pips.
TIME OF USE: December - March; first grade for dessert, excellent.
The TREE is a moderate grower and forms an attractive tree. The twigs are medium, olive-brown, with oval, grey, unevenly spread lenticels; the shoots are medium, strong, light violet-coloured, woolly; the leaf stalks are 15 - 25 mms; the leaves are egg-shaped, dully serrated, pointed. We recommend this variety as pyramid, espalier, cordon and dwarf tree and we wish that our description will build some demand and a larger distribution in our country for this excellent apple, so that it may be saved from extinction, brought about by the abundance of lesser apples.