Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-07
The AIbcmnrIe Pippin and It's His
tory.

COveSYille, Va, TcDruary 20, 1871
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
Some time in January last 1 received
from you a letter asking for the facts
In regard to a barrel of Albemarle pip
pins being sent TO the Queen Of Eng
land annually, and also newspaper
clipping asserting that the Queens ap-
pies We're gotten from Western New
York. At the same time the writer
threw doubt upon the whole story.
Not knowing anything about the mat
ter. I wrote to Charles Forster, Eng
land, fruit-broker and commission inner
chant, in New York, and to J. c. Hough-
ton & Co., London =. c.. for information.
1 have received replies from both. Mr..
Forster says that he has given the mat
ter careful attention, and is Of the opin-
ion that there Is nothing In the story,
but says he has no doubt that Albemarle
pippins have found their way to her
Maiesty's table. as they are the best
that could be gotten anywhere, and are
entirely worthy Of place there.
Messrs Houghton q Co. say: I'VE
cannot find that any one here supplies
her Majesty with any special six bar
rels annually, as you say; but there is
no doubt however, that some OF the
finest and best selected applies that come
here do find their way to the tables Of
our gracious Queen"
If the Queen gets the best apples. she
undoubtedly eats Albemarle pippins, for
they are the best apples grown any
where. This is shown by the fact that
they bring the very highest prices In
the English markets. They are sold in
- aE VrrH "A
Newtown." "Albemarle Newtown." or
simply "Albemarle pippin," whilst the
New York plbpins are sold as New
towns"
The crop Of Albemarle pippins was an
almost total failure in Virginia the past
season. They were not as good as usual,
but they sold readily at from 81 10 -,
whilst other varieties brought from 81 to
$3.50.
a local dealer here, who does a large
business, being unable TO supply his Gus
toners with Albemarle pippins. offered
10 furnish instead Newtowns grown in
New York, but in nearly every instance
they were refused. This shows the COM
parative estimate placed upon the TWO
apples by the American consumers.
Pippins are now quoted in the English
markets ct 81 to Al shillings, or $3.50 to
$3.50 per barrel other varieties at l3 10 p
shillings. or S312 10 s..
It happens very fortunately for us
that our hitting" year comes when the
orchards in Northern States fail.
This past season there was an enor-
nous aDple-crop in New York. Pennsyl-
vania. Michigan, and the New England
States, and q large crop in Canada and
Nova Scotia. Next year they VIII have
none. and this Will leave clear field for
the big crop which we expect on our
orchards next fall. The total exports TO
England from America will reach this
season nearly 100000 barrels. During
the season of 1895 and 1895, which was our
last bearing season, there were export
ca only some 10000 or 100000 barrels
So you can readily see how great Is
the advantage Of the Virginia grower
over the New York grower.
The size of the American crop fixes
the prices in England; for the English
crop consists mostly Of summer and fall
varieties which is out Of the way by the
time American apples reach there. Pip
pins are 90 some extent affected IN prce
by the prices of other apples, but not to
any great extent for the supply is
usually not equal to the demand. They
will always bring fine prices, and this
is likely TO continue in the future, and
whilst the pippin orchards have been
much increased IN the last few years,
yet the area suited to the growth Of
good pippins IS so small that the in
crease Of production viii necessarily be
small as compared with the increase Of
demand resulting from increase Of popu-
lation and the finding Of new markets.
We have in the last few years tried
shipments Of red apples 10 England, and
find the results very satisfactory. Wine
sap, Johnson's fine water. and Ben Davis
brought excellent prices,
After a good many years experience
with apples, and from closely watching
the sales of apples from all sections Of
the country, l have come TO the conclu-
sion that Piedmont Virginia is the finest
apple-groWing region in America.
Yours very truly, WILLIAM II. BOAZ.
The following is the newspaper ex.
tract referred to:
\ elf-congratulatory note Of fowery
phrase and classical allusion In the
Alexandria Times begins with the
words, 1.-The six barrels of Albemarle
pippins. which have been eaten in Queen
Victora's household each year for a
long period have scattered seed amid
the wealth and rank Of Europe, which
bids fair 10 produce good financial fruit
abroad as the result of Virginia
orchards" We IN this part OF the cOun-
try have been taught TO believe that
those apples for the household Of the
Queen were a Western New York product,
grown on a Niagara county farm, and
It is not long since a circumstantial ac-
count was printed Of the care with which