Gloucestershire Orchard Group

Conserves, promotes and celebrates traditional orchards in Gloucestershire

Varietal Research

Research into Gloucestershire varieties still continues, and we flag up here some areas of recent correspondence and debate.

April 2007 Entry

The total of Gloucestershire apples in existence is now 102. Eden has a newly 'discovered' sister seedling the Fon's Spring (dessert). Previously believed to be merely a synonym for the Eden. Sheeps Nose of Oldbury (general purpose), Rose of Ciren (dessert) - produced by Jefferies Nurseries of Siddington, Cirencester. Probably arose early 1900s. Wheeler's Russet held in the NCCPG Gloucestershire Apple Collection and in the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale has now been agreed to be false. However a much more likely contender for the name Wheelers Russet has been found growing in Gloucestershire and is now on trial at Brogdale to try to verify its true identity. In the meantime it is recorded as Wheelers Russet of Gloucestershire. A culinary variety which seems not to have been heard of since 1884 has come to light in South Gloucestershire - Duke of Bedford.

Download Apples of Gloucestershire List (PDF)

© Charles Martell March 2007

February 2005 Entry

A renowned plum expert has contacted GOG suggesting that Smith's Pruin is a synonym for Diamond. This might indeed be the case; they are certainly similar. However, Diamond would seem to be too big to agree exactly with our description of Smith's Pruin. We hope to resolve the issue this summer by showing samples of Diamond to the person who described Smith's Pruin.

Discussions are also continuing over the apparently lost Johnnie Moor plum. Johnnie Moor plum (note spelling) is described in Plums of England by H.V.Taylor p126. as 'somewhat like a Victoria, rather rounder, and more mottled. Said to be a really high class dessert plum much prized in the Cheltenham locality.' The Jimmy Moore (note different name, and spelling of Moore) plum seems to have been documented in later literature as a variety local to Cheltenham (Gloucestershire), where it still grows, though Taylor makes no mention of it. It is possible that the two varieties are one and the same, so any further information would be greatly appreciated.

The specimen of Leathercoat in the Gloucestershire Apple Collection is no longer believed to be true, thus the apple was thought to be extinct. However, we are hopeful of graftwood sent by a Welsh nurseryman. Time will tell whether this is good Leathercoat.

Selina Pippin is now recognised as a synonym for Kentucky Redstreak, and so is deleted from the Gloucestershire list of lost apples.

Chaceley Kernel may not be a Gloucestershire variety after all. It is possibly a miss-spelling of Chatley's Kernel which is a Worcestershire variety. A fruit comparison this summer should settle the issue.

Please contact Ann Smith if you have any comments on the above, or indeed on any issue relating to this field of research in the county.