Major (cider apple)

'Major'
'Major'
Species	Malus domestica
Origin	England.

Major is a cider apple cultivar first grown in the United Kingdom in the area of Devon and Somerset.

Characteristics

Major is a 'bittersweet' under the categorisation system developed in 1903 by the Long Ashton Research Station, its fruit being high in tannins and relatively low in acidity. A long established variety dating from the 19th century or earlier, it was historically found in old farm orchards across South Devon and east of the Blackdown Hills in Somerset.^[1]

A triploid variety, young trees of 'Major' are very vigorous in growth meaning it is unsuitable for use with some large-growing rootstocks.^[2] It bears early in the season. The fruit are fairly typical of Somerset "Jersey" (bittersweet) apples,^[3] and are medium sized with a pinkish red flush.

'Major' is amongst the cultivars classified as of 'vintage' quality, i.e. capable of making single-varietal cider.

References

^ Annual Report of the Long Ashton Research Station, 1986, p.64
^ Copas and Umpelby, 2002, Growing Cider Apples: A Guide to Good Orchard Practice, NACM, p. 20
^ Copas (2001) Somerset Pomona: The Cider Apples of Somerset, Dovecote, p.48

[lars-1] Annual Report of the Long Ashton Research Station, 1986, p.64

[copas-2] Copas and Umpelby, 2002, Growing Cider Apples: A Guide to Good Orchard Practice, NACM, p. 20

[copas48-3] Copas (2001) Somerset Pomona: The Cider Apples of Somerset, Dovecote, p.48

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