Vintage Virginia Apples

BLAKENEY RED (also known as Painted Lady) is a common perry pear in Herefordshire, England, widely planted during the late 19th century. It originated in the early 1800s. A mid-season perry pear with moderate acids and tannins, this was considered a dual-purpose pear, used for both eating and for perry during the 19th century. The fruit is small-medium, pyriform to turbinate, with a slender stem and a small, narrow stem basin. The calyx basin is well defined and the calyx is open or reflexed. The skin is yellow with deep red blush on the side exposed to sun, some russet spreading from calyx end, and numerous lenticels, generally small. The flesh is firm, crisp, and juicy with stone cells around the core. A heavy and reliable cropper, the tree is vigorous and sturdy with upright branches when young, becoming a medium to large tree. It is slow to come into bearing, but it produces a pleasant vintage perry of average quality with medium acid and tannin. This variety is harvested in midseason. Its stewed juice was once used to dye khaki uniforms.

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