The Apple Collection is the most comprehensive of the DEFRA Collections and
consists of dessert, culinary, cider and ornamental Malus varieties, species and
hybrids. There are two representatives of each accession, most of which have
been grafted on M9 rootstock and planted with a spacing of 4 m x 2.5 m. The
index is divided into the following sections:
I. Malus domestica Borkh. - Dessert and Culinary Varieties
The Collection was repropagated and established in its present location between
1975 and 1978. The site covers 4.03 hectares and the 2110 varieties have been
planted, as far as possible, in blocks of dessert or culinary varieties
according to their season of use. Seedlings and unknown cultivars
may be found at the end of each index.
II. Malus domestica Borkh. - Cider Varieties
The Cider Collection was planted in spring 1991, with acquisitions from Long
Ashton Research Station and industry sources such as Showerings in South West
England. The 100 varieties currently cover 0.15 hectares. Those accessions which
are also listed in the dessert and culinary apple index are denoted (B).
Using the Index
The raiser's name, where it forms part of the cultivar name, prefixes it, e.g.
Laxton's Favourite, not Favourite (Laxton's).
A name in brackets after the cultivar name usually indicates the supplier or
provenance. A number in brackets, such as (73A), indicates a clone.
Some cultivars have been received under the wrong name and if the correct name
is not known, an asterisk follows the name.
Key to Abbreviations and Classifications
EM: East Malling Research Station
EMLA: East Malling/Long Ashton
HTC: Heat Treated Clone
LA: Long Ashton Research Station: Virus Tested Clones
NFT: National Fruit Trials
4x = tetraploid
Culinary and dessert cultivars have been characterised according to fruit
appearance and taste ('group'), season of use ('season') and type of use
('use'), as detailed below:
I. Group
Group 1 = smooth skinned, green and sour (Lord Derby type)
Group 2 = smooth skinned, predominantly green and sweet (Granny Smith type)
Group 3 = smooth skinned, flushed or striped and sour (Lane's Prince Albert
type)
Group 4 = smooth skinned, flushed or striped and sweet (James Grieve type)
Group 5 = skin predominantly yellow (Golden Noble type)
Group 6 = predominantly red (Worcester Pearmain type)
Group 7 = reinettes, skin coloured with some russet (Cox's Orange Pippin type)
Group 8 = skin predominantly russet (Brownlees Russet type)
Cultivars groups 1 and 3 are culinary; group 2 are dessert; groups, 4, 5 and 6
may be either dessert or culinary; groups 7 and 8 are nearly always dessert.
II. Season
E = Early: comprises very early, early and second-early (July to September)
M = Mid: comprises mid-season and mid-late (October to November)
L = Late: comprises late and very late (December onwards)
The 'season' refers to fruit kept under barn-storage conditions and the period
of prime condition for use in the south-east of England.
III. Use
D = Dessert (fresh eating)
C = Culinary (for cooking)
C & D = Dual Purpose
