The ‘Beefing’ Apples Story, Chapter Two, Part Three is Now Live

I’ve had a bit of a break from the subject to pursue other research avenues – a posted piece on Ancient Roman “Apple” Varieties, and a connected item on the Nominative Evolution of ‘Court Pendu Plat’, which is still at the editing stage – but the next instalment in my history of the ‘Beefing’ group of apples has now been posted.

In chapter two, part three: Dr. Hogg and the Rediscovery of ‘Striped Beefing’, I explore in more detail Hogg’s involvement in the rediscovery and re-popularisation of an apple variety that had been almost lost to obscurity, aside from a couple of mentions in the first half of the nineteenth century.

Hogg considered ‘Striped Beefing’ to be a “noble apple” and “one of the handsomest and best culinary apples in cultivation” and, from 1847 through to the end of the nineteenth century, he worked to reintroduce the variety to the world, via the medium of his own books and the involvement of some of the most prominent nurserymen of the day, particularly his great friend Thomas Rivers of the Rivers Nursery in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire.

In this part of the ‘Beefing’ Apples Story I look at the available evidence – the publications of the era – in order to assess the success or otherwise of Hogg’s plan. I do have to conclude that, despite his best efforts and a definite increase in the visibility and availability of ‘Striped Beefing’ through to the end of the nineteenth century, things probably didn’t work out quite as well as Hogg was most likely hoping.

Nevertheless, Dr. Hogg is to be applauded for his work on behalf of this excellent apple variety – which is still available to be grown and enjoyed today – that most likely would have faded away and been completely forgotten, without his intervention.

I do hope you enjoy this latest instalment of the ‘Beefing’ Apples Story. If you do, or if you have any follow-up questions or observations, please do leave a comment, or send me an email.

Part four of chapter two, the story of Dr. Hogg and Dr. Bull’s introduction and spirited promotion of ‘Herefordshire Beefing’ will follow, hopefully in a few weeks, once I’ve finished editing and polishing process. Watch this space for further updates, or better yet sign up for my email list to receive a notification when it goes live.