British Pomology. Robert Hogg

mentioned by most of the early continental writers, the Api does not appear to have been known in this country, till towards the end of the 17th century. It is first mentioned by Worlidge, who calls it “Pomme Appease, a curious apple, lately propagated; the fruit is small and pleasant, which the Madams of France carry in their pockets, by reason they yield no unpleasant scent.” Lister, in his “Journey to Paris, 1698,” speaking of this as being one of the apples served up in the dessert, says, “Also the Pome d’Apis, which is served here more for show than for use; being a small flat apple, very beautiful, and very red on one side, and pale or white on the other, and may serve the ladies at their toilets as a pattern to paint by.” De Quintinye calls it “Une Pomme des Damoiselles et de bonne compagnie.”

      Under the name of Lady Apple, large quantities of the Api are annually imported to this country from the United States, where it is grown to a great extent, and produces a considerable return to the growers, as it always commands the highest price of any other fancy apple in the market. In the winter months, they may be seen encircled with various coloured tissue papers, adorning the windows of the fruiterers in Covent Garden Market.

      There are other varieties mentioned by J. B. Porta as belonging to the Api family; one which ripened in August, in size like the Claudiana already mentioned, and commonly called Melo Appio Rosso, because it retained the scent of the Api; this is probably the Rother Sommer-api of Diel. There is another, of which he says, “Assererem tuto esse Melapium Plinii,” and which was held in such estimation as to give rise to the proverb—

      “Omme malum malum præter appium malum.”

[I] Plinii Hist. Nat. Lib. xv., cap. 14.

[J] Villæ, p. 278.

      7. API GROS.—Duh.

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       Identification.—Duh. Arb. Fr. 1, 312. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3.

       Synonymes.—Pomme Rose, Quint. Traité, I. 203, but not of Knoop. Pomme d’Api Gros. Ron. Pyr. Mal. 39. Passe-rose, Chart. Cat. 55. Grosser Api, Rosenapi, Diel Kernobst. iv., 228. Api Rose. Doppelter Api, Acc. Christ Handworter. Rubenapfel, Ibid. Api Grand, Ibid.

       Figure.—Ron. Pyr. Mal. pl. xx. f. 1.

      Fruit, below medium size, two inches and three quarters wide, and two inches high; oblate. Skin, pale green, changing as it ripens to pale yellow on the shaded side, and pale red, mottled with green, where exposed to the sun. Eye, small and closed, set in a shallow and plaited basin. Stalk, short, inserted in a wide, rather deep, and russety cavity. Flesh, greenish, tender, crisp, very juicy, and briskly flavored.

      Suitable either for the dessert, or for culinary purposes; it is inferior to the Api and not a first-rate apple. In use from December to March. The tree has much similarity to the Api in its growth, and is a good bearer.

      This is a variety of the preceding, and closely resembles it in all its parts, except that it is much larger. “La Pomme Rose resemble extremement partout son exterieur a la Pomme d’Apis, mais à mon goût elle ne la vaut pas quoy que puissent dire les curieux du Rhône, qui la veulent autant élever aussi au dessus des autres, qu’ils élevent la Poire Chat au dessus des autres Poires.”—De Quintinye.

      8. API ETOILLE.—Diel.

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       Identification.—Diel. Kernobst. B. iv. 31.

       Synonymes.—Pomme Etoillée, Duh. Arb. Fr. I. 312. Pomme d’Etoille, Ibid. Gelber Sternförmiger Api, Diel Kernobst. B. iv. 31. Sternapfel, Christ Handworter, 106. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 797.

      This is a variety of the Api, from which it is distinguished by being very much flattened, and furnished with five very prominent angles on the sides, which give it the appearance of a star, hence its name. It is of a deep yellow on the shaded side, and redish orange next the sun. It is a well-flavored apple, but only of second-rate quality. It ripens about the middle or end of September.

      The variety received under this name by the London Horticultural Society must have been incorrect, as in the last edition of their catalogue it is made synonymous with Api Petit.

      9. API NOIR.—Duh.

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       Identification.—Duh. Arb. Fr. I. 311. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3.

       Synonyme.—Schwarzer Api, Diel Kernobst. ix. 214.

       Figure.—Poit et. Turp. pl. 137.

      Fruit, small, but a little larger and somewhat flatter than the Api, to which it bears a close resemblance. Skin, tender, smooth, and shining as if varnished, and almost entirely covered, where exposed to the sun, with very dark crimson, almost approaching to black, like the Pomme Violette, but becoming paler towards the shaded side, where there is generally a patch of light yellow; it is strewed with fawn-colored dots, and some markings of russet. Eye, very small, set in a pretty deep and plaited basin. Stalk, slender, about three quarters of an inch long, inserted in a rather deep, wide, and funnel-shaped cavity, which is slightly marked with russet. Flesh, pure white, firm and juicy, tinged with red under the skin, and with a pleasant, vinous, and slightly perfumed flavor.

      A dessert apple, inferior to the Api, and cultivated merely for curiosity. It is in use from November to April, but is very apt to become meally.

      The habit of the tree is similar to that of the Api, but it is rather a larger grower.

      10. AROMATIC RUSSET.—Lind.

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       Identification.—Lind. Guide, 86. Rog. Fr. Cult. 105.

       Figure.—Ron. Pyr. Mal. pl. viii.