Vintage Fruits
Cowarne Red from Knight's 'Pomona Herefordiensis'
‘Vintage Fruits’ - the new CD, produced by Richard Wheeler and published by the Marcher Apple Network, is a compilation of descriptions and illustrations from five books on cider apples and perry pears - all of which are out of print; rare, expensive to buy when available or just fairly inaccessible to the majority of the general public.
The five books as named in the CD are:
Bulmer's Pomona (1987), with text by Ray Williams, water colours by Caroline Todhunter and drawings by Rodney Shackell
Cider Apples (1961-64), published as ‘Cider Apples and their Characters’ - papers by Ray Williams and others in the Annual Reports of Long Ashton Research Station, University of Bristol
Hogg and Bull (1886) by Robert Hogg and Henry Graves Bull, original title The Apple and Pear as Vintage Fruits. (Some of the cider apples and perry pears in this book are illustrated by plates from The Herefordshire Pomona)
Knight's Pomona (1811) by Thomas Andrew Knight, original title Pomona Herefordiensis
Perry Pears (1963), particularly the work of Ray Williams and others at Long Ashton in the 1950s and 60s.
Cider Apples (1961-64), published as ‘Cider Apples and their Characters’ - papers by Ray Williams and others in the Annual Reports of Long Ashton Research Station, University of Bristol
Hogg and Bull (1886) by Robert Hogg and Henry Graves Bull, original title The Apple and Pear as Vintage Fruits. (Some of the cider apples and perry pears in this book are illustrated by plates from The Herefordshire Pomona)
Knight's Pomona (1811) by Thomas Andrew Knight, original title Pomona Herefordiensis
Perry Pears (1963), particularly the work of Ray Williams and others at Long Ashton in the 1950s and 60s.
The CD ‘Introduction’ starts with a ‘History of Books on Cider Apples and Perry Pears’ outlining the books included on the CD. These were selected so as to bring together almost all the published works containing descriptions and illustrations of cider apples and perry pears, starting with the Pomona Herefordiensis by Knight, published in 1811. There is mention of there being many earlier works but none are mentioned by name.
The second heading in the ‘Introduction’ is the editor’s notes - hints on using the CD, searching, corrections made to the published texts, spelling etc. This useful section could have been highlighted for reading first!
The ‘Index of 290 Cider Apple’s and ‘Index of 107 Perry Pears’ brings together alphabetical lists of the varieties with descriptions and illustrations of the fruits from all five books, making it easy to compare different descriptions of the same variety. Descriptions do differ in different publications - for example, the two descriptions for the perry pear Moorcroft. The variety descriptions from each book, without the illustrations, are in a separate chapter.
This is followed by a chapter on each of the five books, each with an introduction, variety list and descriptions. The coloured plates from Bulmer’s Pomona and Pomona Herefordiensis are shown here as thumbnails but for the outline drawings from the other publications one has to look up individual varieties from the variety list.
The book Perry Pears, compiled from the papers published by Ray Williams has two of the most useful sections for those trying to identify perry pears - namely the section on identification and the ‘Perry Pear Key’. Terms used in description become almost meaningless unless one has an explanation from the compiler of the description and here the terms used in the descriptions are clearly explained with photographs and drawings. This section also has notes on using the Key, which is a separate heading.
There is a lot of information on the CD and at first it can be a bit daunting but do not be put off! Read the editor’s notes first followed by the identification heading in ‘Perry Pears’. It is a pity there are not similar notes for apple identification.
The Marcher Apple Network are to be congratulated on making these books - so long out of print - available for anyone interested in the history and identification of cider apples and perry pears.
Alison Lean
'Vintage Fruits' CD, compiled by Richard Wheeler, is available from the Marcher Apple Network. An order form (including overseas postage rates) can be downloaded from http://www.marcherapple.net/vfruit.htm
or send your cheque, payable to Marcher Apple Network, Membership Secretary, Brook House, Hopesay, Craven Arms, Shropshire SY7 8HD. The cost is £16 per copy including post and packing in the UK.
The ‘Herefordshire Pomona’ CD, with descriptions of 432 ‘esteemed’ varieties of apples, pears, cider apples and perry pears illustrated on 77 colour plates, is also still available.
'Vintage Fruits' CD, compiled by Richard Wheeler, is available from the Marcher Apple Network. An order form (including overseas postage rates) can be downloaded from http://www.marcherapple.net/vfruit.htm
or send your cheque, payable to Marcher Apple Network, Membership Secretary, Brook House, Hopesay, Craven Arms, Shropshire SY7 8HD. The cost is £16 per copy including post and packing in the UK.
The ‘Herefordshire Pomona’ CD, with descriptions of 432 ‘esteemed’ varieties of apples, pears, cider apples and perry pears illustrated on 77 colour plates, is also still available.
Published: 23 Jun 07
Author: Alison Lean
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