Posted on 01/29/2007 6:40:07 PM PST by blam
Pomologists bite off more than they can chew with 200-year-old apple mystery
By Richard Savill
Last Updated: 2:01am GMT 30/01/2007
The identity of an apple variety that has been growing in Dorset for 200 years has left fruit specialists baffled.
For generations, the family of Diana Toms has affectionately referred to the fruit as Granfer's Apple, after her great, great grandfather who planted the tree in 1803.
The family has asked pomologists to help establish the cooking apple's identity but they have so far been unable to solve the mystery.
Mrs Toms, 83, said: "I am rather pleased it is baffling all these people. If nobody knows what it is then it should be officially called Granfer's Apple. I would like that."
Mrs Toms' great, great grandfather, Isaac Bugler, grew the tree in an orchard attached to the family home in the village of Beaminster, Dorset. Mrs Toms said: "When I was a child I learnt to catch by standing under the tree. My father would climb up and drop the apples down to me. It is a wonderful cooking apple and my family has used it in cakes and pies for years and years. But if you like a sharp and crisp taste, then the apple is equally good for eating."
Mrs Toms called in specialists at the Symondsbury Apple Day in Dorset but they could not identify it. David Squirrell, of the Symondsbury Apple Project, said: "Its appearance doesn't match up with any other variety. There are lots of things about it, the shape, closed eye and length of stalk. "It might be a new variety that nobody knows about but it is probably an old one that was forgotten about many, many years ago. A completely new variety is very, very rare."
The French word for potato is "Pomme de Terre" or, "Apple of the Earth".
The French word for "French Fry" is "Pomme Frite".
What is the French word for "Fried Apple"?
Sorry, I have never had an appropriate forum for this question.
Those apples are certainly ripe!
I give up?
Oh, give it a rest. I guess your "kids" have never been to the beach??? The cheerleader outfit certainly covers more than any bikini.
Can you explain to me why a picture of a cheerleader is relevant to an articles about apples. One of the problems with FR in the last few years is the overabundance of meaningless "joke" responses. Some threads have no posts about the actual article, just "joke" replies. It kind of makes the point of the sight meaningless.
I notice your post makes no references to Apples. Please try to stay on topic.
It wasn't the apple on the tree that caused all the trouble - it was the peach on the ground.
I didn't say that it was relevant. However, when people challenge me on how I act as a parent!?!? Give me a freakin' break.
FR has been that way since it started. I don't like it but i'm certainly not going to act like a bulletin board is suddenly going to be managed. These things (even before the internet) were unmanaged. What makes it different today?
"Pomologist?"
No, lunch!
My bad. Coy look and red faced.
Speaking of apples, if anyone knows where (and when) I can find Northern Spy apples in Chicago, thanks in advance. All I can find are Tasteless But Pretty.
"A completely new variety is very, very rare."
Not so fast, there. As I remember, a new variety of Golden Delicious was found growing in the Bahamas not too long ago. Nothing like an apple that can grow in the heat of the tropics.
... pompadourologist.
You need to get a grip! Seriously! If this bothers your children, they don't belong here! What do you do when we get those beautiful, wonderful pictures of Madeline Albright and Hillary Clinton?
Interesting. Thanks.
jm
It doesn't surprise me that they can't identify the variety offhand. Last I had heard, there were about 1,800 named varieties of apples in the U.S. if I recall correctly. That was in 1976. I almost took a graduate assistantship to research apple leaf photosynthesis at the U. of Michigan, but decided that wasn't particularly interesting.
I see you've met the local Taliban. Thanks for the pic.
Can you explain to ME why an article about apples is relevant to the original charter of Free Republic?
Heck, a pic of a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader seems more fitting fitting than an article about some apple tree planted in Italy or France 100 years ago! At least the cheerleader represents "America's Team."
What is this, grouchy old curmudgeon night on Free Republic?
Excellent question. Now it's going to bother me, too!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.