_Synonym_: Grimes's Golden.
This valuable apple originated many years since on the farm of Thomas
Grimes, Brooke county, Virginia. In its native locality it is highly
prized for the peculiar hardihood of the tree, withstanding uninjured
the most severe winters, and never breaking in its limbs; also, for its
uniform regular annual productiveness. Tree vigorous, hardy, upright,
spreading, very productive; branches with peculiar knobs at the base of
each, connecting it with the main limbs. Young wood dark, dull red
brown, grayish. Fruit medium, roundish oblate, slightly conical. Skin
uneven. Color rich golden yellow, sprinkled moderately with small gray
and light dots. Stalk rather short and slender. Cavity rather deep,
sometimes slightly russeted. Calyx closed, or partially open. Basin
abrupt, uneven. Flesh yellow, compact, crisp, tender, juicy, rich,
sprightly, spicy subacid; peculiar aroma. Core rather small. Very good
to best. December to March.
Remarks on the Grimes's Golden Pippen by members of the State
Horticultural Society:
C. C. Cook: I have not tried to ship any Grimes's Golden. I would place
it about second on the list of summer [?] apples. With me it is a good,
thrifty, hardy tree, but my orchard is young.
J. W. Robison: I have grown it extensively. It is one of the best fall
apples and one of the beauties. It does not keep well. It rots badly
after it is gathered and goes to market in rather bad shape. It is not
planted as much now as in the past.
E. J. Holman: It stands in quality beside the Jonathan, and is a
first-class dessert apple. It is a good bearer and ought to be in every
family orchard, but I would not recommend it for the commercial orchard.
H. L. Ferris: Mine bore very heavily and were large and fine. Sold well
locally; never shipped any; think they should come next to the Maiden's
Blush in the commercial orchard.
W. G. Gano: The Grimes's Golden is the very best apple of its season.
Should be in all family orchards, and have a small place in commercial
orchards.
J. B. McAfee: Like Mr. Gano, I consider it the very best apple that
grows, and one of the most profitable in my orchard. I find it
short-lived. I take best care of them for use of my family until about
the 1st of November.
F. W. Dixon: It is the best apple for family use, but drops badly. The
tree is a good bearer but not long-lived.
G. P. Whiteker: I plant Grimes's Golden and Maiden's Blush for profit.
The Grimes's Golden is handsome and brings a good price, especially at
this time of the year--December.
Phillip Lux: I have had experience with it for years. In the family
orchard we cannot do without it. We aim to keep it for our family as
long as it lasts, say until February. In my opinion it is better than
any pear that grows in our state. We should handle them with care, as we
do pears. Put away carefully, in a cold, dry cellar, they retain their
flavor and keep well. I think them worthy of a place in the commercial
orchard.
J. F. Maxey: I like to eat them; most of us do. There is a place for
them as a fancy apple.
William Cutter: I consider it the best-flavored apple grown for family
use. Missouri and Arkansas have brought the big red apple into history,
but now the big yellow apple is preferred by many consumers. I consider
them extra fine.
B. F. Smith: I pack mine in boxes as well as barrels. I consider them
fine.
G. Y. Johnson (Douglas county): I find the tree is not as hardy as I
would like to have it. As far as the apple is concerned, it sells as
well as any.