Bloody Ploughman

The Bloody Ploughman is a domesticated apple cultivar. The cultivar originated in Scotland.

Characteristics

 * The cavity is deep, narrow, is mostly lined with russet which can spread out over the shoulder.
 * The stalk is sturdy.
 * The basin varies, but is ribbed and irregular.
 * The eye is open or partly open.
 * The sepals are broad and reflexed.
 * The flesh is pink when ripe, sweet, juicy and crisp.
 * The tube is broad cone, the stamens are basal and the core is situated away from the axis.
 * The tree is vigorous.
 * The season is September to November.
 * The flowering is just before Cox's Orange Pippin. Pollination Group D.
 * On May 8, it is 10% flowering.
 * On May 12, it is full (80%) flowering.
 * On May 19, it has 90% petal fall.
 * Picking time: mid-September.

Name
The story is that a gamekeeper shot dead a ploughman caught stealing apples from the Megginch Estate. When his body was returned to his wife, she found stolen apples in his pockets and threw them onto a rubbish heap. One of the resulting seedlings bore apples of a deep, blood red. This tree gave rise to the cultivar that was named after the unfortunate ploughman.

External links and references

 * A photo of the inside of a Bloody Ploughman
 * A photo of the inside of a Bloody Ploughman