ROTHBACKIGER WINTER-PEPPING.
Illustrations 111a, 111b, 111c.
othbackiger Winter-Pepping (Handbuch, IV, page 309; oberdieck , Anleitung, page 161).
Pippeling, Rothbackige Winter- (Beschrijving der vruchtsoorten [Description of fruit varieties], second series, N°. 126).
Origin unknown, we received the apple from oberdieck.
SHAPE: seldom different from the illustrated apple. The high-round shape as illustrated in the Handbuch (a) has not yet been noticed by us; the specimen we saw were more like illustration b from the Handbuch.
SIZE: fourth grade.
EYE: open, with long sepals, in a broad, even, bowl-shaped basin, some faint russeting and some little folds, seldom beyond the basin.
STALK: short, thin, woody, in a deep, rather broad, russeted cavity.
The COLOUR, directly after picking, is green, later more yellowish green, at the sun side dull red; the apple shows a thin, cinnamon-coloured russeting, unevenly spread, which makes it look like a reinette, rather than a pippeling. The skin is rough, rather than smooth.
The FLESH is yellowish white, with green veins, often also green just beneath the skin, fine, rather firm, juicy, excellent, with a distinguished aromatic taste, better than the taste of the Herrwegs Reinette, with which it shares some characteristics. The core is usually open, with short, rather spacious cells and many dark black-brown pips.
TIME OF USE: February - June; the apple keeps well and tastes good until the end; first grade for dessert.
The TREE is a moderate grower, builds an attractive shape and bears mildly. The twigs are slender, light olive-coloured violet, with small, round lenticels; the buds stand off somewhat; the shoots are brownish violet, small lenticels, woolly; leaf stalks are 20 - 30 mms, rather thick; the leaves vary in shape, usually round, coarsely veined, snub, sharpely serrated.
This variety can be recommended as a pyramid, espalier or dwarf tree; as a standard tree it requires a sheltered place.