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St James Village Orchard

Details of the Tree at Grid Ref D2

Tree Details   
Grid Ref
D2
Tree Type Apple
Variety Norfolk Beefing
Rootstock MM106
Date Planted 15 March 2010
Tree Description Dark purplish red flush, red stripes over green. Used early in season for cooking, but by spring sweet enough to eat fresh. Will store until April. A dual purpose apple.
Comments Suggested by MG. In MG's childhood garden in Norwich there was a large Biffin tree. The fruit made first-class bakers with rather a rich taste. Mention is made of Beefings in a fruit list from a note-book of 1698 belonging to the Walpole family of the Mannington and Wolterton estates in Norfolk. Biffins were the apples which were dried, whole and unpeeled, in warm bread ovens so that they shrivelled into a form like roundish red prunes.
Orchard Map
There was an Old Man of Girgenti, who lived in profusion and plenty; he lay on two chairs, and ate thousands of pears, that susceptible Man of Girgenti   (Edward Lear)