LADY’S FINGER OF OFFALY It is also known as Lady’s Finger of Offaly and Monaghan. An Irish apple described by Lamb in 1951, but certainly much older. A very attractive yellow apple with bright red stripes and splashes. The apples have the characteristic long Lady’s Finger shape. The fruit is initially crisp, juicy, sweet and a bit spicy, when first ripe in September, but tends to go soft fairly soon afterwards. Apples will keep into November but become a bit cidery in the taste. T* Pollination Group 4
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

LAMB ABBEY PEARMAIN Raised from a seed of Newtown Pippin by Mrs Malcolm who lived at Lamb Abbey, near Dartford, Kent, before 1804. It is a middle sized apple, oval/pyramidal and flattened both ends. The skin is yellowish green, with red stripes and rusty dots on the sunny side. The flesh is yellowish, crisp and juicy, with a rich sweetness and light aromatic flavour. An excellent late season, dessert apple, good in December and storing to March. Trees are free growing, upright and good bearers. Pollination Group 3

 

  

LANCASHIRE PIPPIN There are two distinct sorts of Lancashire Pippin recorded in the National Apple Register of 1971; Lancashire Pippin 1 is ‘missing’ (recorded and last heard of in 1883, having been exhibited from Westmorland). It is middle-season, small and tall in shape. Lancashire Pippin 2 has been in the National Collection since 1950. It is the latter that we offer here. Lancashire Pippin 2 is a culinary, late apple, of medium size, ripe in Oct-Nov. The skin is greenish yellow, with an orange flush and pale to dark carmine-red stripes in the sun. Sometimes it can become quite dark. The flesh is initially firm, creamy-white and sharp, but mellows after storage. When cooked it goes soft quite quickly, keeps some shape but will go to a purée if wanted. By mid November it will go directly to a fluff. It can be a little sharp but, when sugar is added, it brings out a very rich flavour. In some years it can be a pleasant eating apple. Very striking deep pink and white blossom. Free spurring. T. Pollination Group 6

    
 

LANE’S PRINCE ALBERT A cooking apple, which originated in Berkhamsted in the garden of quaker Thomas Squire. He transplanted the tree to his front garden on the day that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert called in the town, to change horses at the King's Arms. He named it Victoria and Albert. John Lane, a grower in the town, was impressed by the tree because of its compact nature and heavy crops, and he introduced it as Lane’s Prince Albert in 1857. The original tree remained until 1958, when the house and garden were removed to make way for new building. The fruit is large and slightly shiny, with a green skin, warmly blushed and flecked red, and with white, juicy flesh. When cooked it keeps its shape, but softens completely, with a fine blend of sugar and acid. Sometimes the addition of a little sugar brings out the rich tangy flavour. By March it becomes sweet enough to eat. Hogg called it a marvellous bearer and Bunyard a very reliable cropper, and all that is true. Pollination Group 4

    
 
LANGLEIGH DELIGHT An old variety, probably Devonish, sent to us by Jeremy Sansom of Watermouth in Devon. The old, tall, upright growing tree is now an orphaned remnant of an old orchard, formerly part of the old Langleigh Estate, near Ilfracombe. It stands now by the side of the road that was formerly the main access to the old estate. Jeremy reported that the tree stays laden with apples in December, but we have not found that here. It is a characteristic of some trees in some years, but seemingly dependent on the summer’s weather. The red apples are large, heavy and with dense, juicy, crisp, sweet flesh. A good cooking apple, but in warm summers it is also a sweet and rich dessert apple when ripe in October. The apple is about 4 inches wide and tall, tapered/conical with a hint of ribbing, more so at the eye, and widely blushed with bright red. It has a rich flavour, keeping its shape when cooked, without the need for sugar. The original name is unknown and it does not appear to be any variety still known, hence Mr Sansom’s new name of Langleigh Delight. We thank Mr Sansom for his efforts in keeping this interesting old variety going and for sending us fruit and scions. Pollination Group 5
    
 
LANGLEY PIPPIN An early season apple of the late nineteenth century from Veitch’s Nursery of London, who also had a fruit tree nursery near Langley in Buckinghamshire, where this was raised. They crossed Cox’s Orange Pippin with Gladstone. Very attractive, slightly conical apples, with a deep crimson flush and juicy, aromatic, sweet, crisp flesh in late August. The apples will not be so good by November. The trees have a spreading habit. Pollination Group 5
   
 
LARGE SIBERIAN RED-FLESHED CRAB One of several ancient Siberian Crabs that have been utilized in cider making or as breeding stock for other cider varieties. A very showy, fruit that hangs in clusters and is ripe in late September, though it is always sharp and hard to judge its correct time of ripeness. The long, ribbed, apples are not as large as the name suggests, being more medium sized, but larger than the fruit of other Siberian Crabs. They are deep carmine to maroon in the sun and pale carmine in the shade. The flesh is stained red throughout. In November the interior has begun to decay. Use in October for cider. Pollination Group 4
    
 
LAXTON'S EPICURE It is also commonly known as ‘Epicure’. A mid season dessert apple raised by the Laxton Brothers of Bedford, in 1909 as a cross between Cox's Orange Pippin and Wealthy. Sweet, juicy and crisp apples, with a rich flavour, redolent of Cox but adding something more. The skin is flushed and streaked with bright red. A popular garden variety, which produces heavy crops, ready in September. The apples will keep for a month or so, and become softer and richer with storage. The blossom is large and attractive. Pollination Group 4
    
  LAXTON’S EXQUISITE Raised in 1902 by Laxton Bros. of Bedford, a cross of Cox Orange Pippin x Cellini. It was exhibited by Laxtons in 1926 and received an Award of Merit. It entered the National Fruit Trials in 1928. Similar in nature to Cox, but larger, taller, and slightly angular. The golden skin is streaked with red, the flesh is white and crisp with a rich flavour. Ripe in September and keeping to October. It is also known as Exquisite, but this name is incorrect, since an earlier Exquisite existed, being recorded by Scott in 1872. Pollination Group 3    
 

LAXTON'S FORTUNE Also commonly known as Fortune. Another Bedfordshire apple, raised in 1904, but not introduced until 1931. A sweet, juicy apple with Cox as one parent, thereby inheriting some of its characteristic flavour. Easier to grow than Cox, the trees are vigorous and hardy and produce heavy crops. Ready in September, it stores for a month or two.

Pollination Group 3

    
 
LAXTON’S ROYALTY A late dessert apple and a cross between Cox’s Orange Pippin and Court Pendu Plat, with the expected rich flavour. It has medium sized fruit, which is crisp and juicy, and slightly sharper than a Cox, for those that like a sharp apple, though it becomes sweeter with storage. It does not have heavy crops. Sometimes the apple is completely red. Late flowering, ripe in October and storing until February. Pollination Group 7