What are Pippins?

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23020, 23 April 1938, Page 10 (Supplement)

What are Pippins?

The question has been asked why some apples are styled pippins and what is the difference between pippins and other apples? The word pippin is derived from the French "pepin," the seed of an apple.. In its earliest significance it meant an apple tree raised from a pip or 6eed, in contradistinction to one raised by grafting, budding or by cuttings. Leonard Mascal, writing in 1572, states:—"Then shall you cover your pepins or seeds with line earth, so sifting all over them," and "when the winter is past and gone, then ye see your pepins rise and grow." Further, he states, "When so ere ye do replant your pepin trees from place to place, and in so removing often the stock, the fruit thereof shall also'change; but the fruit thereof which doth come of grafting, doth always keep the form and nature of the tree whereof he is taken." It is evident from the last quotation that "pippin" was synonymous with seedling, and is used to distinguish a tree raised fr'om seed, from one raised from grafts or cuttings. Coming to more modern times, we have the word "kernel" which is the English equivalent of the French word "pepin," also used to signify a seedling apple. In many parts of EngJand "kernel" apple trees are quite common, and are always designated as such, to the mystification of a chance .visitor from other parts.