P a r t III.
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Britain, none can be brought to ao high a degree of perfection, with so littlo trouble; and
oi‘ no other arc there so many excellent varieties in general cultivation, calculated for
ahnost every soil, situation, and climate, wliich our island affords. Very good apjilcs
are grown in the Highlands aud Orkneys, and even in the Shetland Isles (Caled. Hort.
Mem., vol. ii.), as well as in Devonsliire and Cornwall; somc sorts arc ripe in the
beginning of July, others, which ripen later, will keep till June, and the Easter pippin
or French crab and a few others may he kept two yeai's. Unlike other fruits, those
which ripen latest arc generally the best.
427.5. Use. F or pies, tarts, sauces, and the dessert, the use of the apple is familiar to every one.
Duduit, of Mazercs, has found th at one third of boiled apple pulj), baked with two thirds of flour, having
been properly fermented with yeast for twelve hours, makes a very excellent bread, full of eyes, and extremely
iialatable and light. {New Month. M a g .,i\m o 1821.) The fermented juice forms cider, a substitute
both for grape wine and malt liquor. In conlectionary, they are used for comfits, compotes, marmalades,
jellies, pastes, tarts,&c. In medicine, verjuice, or the juice of crabs, is used for sprains, and as au astringent
and repellent; and, with a proper addition of sugar. Withering thinks a very grateful liquor might
be made with it, little inferior to Rhenish wine. Inghtfoot affirms th a t th e crab mixed with cultivated
apples, or even alone, if tlioroughly ripe, will make a sound, masculine wine. T h e apple, when ripe, is
laxixtive; the juice is excellent in dysentery: boiled or roasted apples fortify a weak stomach. Scopoli
recovered from a weakness in the stomach and indigestion from using them ; and they are equally efficacious
in putrid and malignant fevers with the juice of lemons or currants. In perfumery, the pulp of
apples, beat up with lard, forms pomatum: and Bosc observes {N . Cours d 'A g r ic u ltu r e , ^ c . in loco),
that the prolonged stratification of apples with elder-flowers, in a close vessel, gives the former an odour
of musk extremely agreeable. In dyeing, the bark produces a yellow colour; and, in general economy,
the wood of the tree is used for turning, and various purposes, where hardness, compactness, and variegation
of colour, are objects.
427G. C riterion o f a good apple. Apples for the table are characterised by a firm juicy pulp, elevated
poignant flavour, regular form, and rich, yellowish, ground-colour; those for kitchen use, by the property
of falling, as it is technically termed, or fonning in general a pulpy mass of equal consistency, when baked
or boiled, and by a large size. Some sorts of apples have the property of falling when green, as the
Keswick, Carlisle, Hawthorndcn, and other codiins; and some only after being ripe, as the russet tribes.
Those which have this property when green, ave particularly valuable for affording sauces to geese cariy
in the season, and for succeeding the gooseberry in tarts. F or cider, an apple m ust possess a considerable
degree of astringency, with or without firmness of pulp, or richness of juico. The best kinds, Knight
observes, are often tough, dry, and fibrous; and the Siberian Harvey, which he recommends as one of the
very best cider apples, is unfit either for culinary purposes or the table. Knight has found that tho
specific gravity of the juice of any apple recentlv expressed, indicates, with very considerable accuracy,
the strength of the future cider. Considering the various uses of the apple, we agree with Speechly in
regarding it as a fruit “ of more use and benefit to the public in general, than all the other fruits, the
produce of this island, united.”
4277. Varieties. Tusser, in 1573, mentions in his list of fruits, “ apples of all sorts.” In a kind of
household book, kept by an ancestor of the present Sir Walter Trevelyan, theve is a list of apples planted
a t Nettlecombe in th e year 1582. It is as follows: “ The apple of Essex; th e leather cott or russett
a p p le ; the London pippin; th e Kew goveling; th e cro k e; the glass apple, or pea rmain; th e redd stear ;
the Nismes apple, o rg reenling ; the beilabone; the apple of D orse tshire; and the Domine quo vadis.”
Several of these apples avc still in general cultivation. Parkinson, in 1629, enumerates fifty-seven
sorts. Evelyn, about thirty years afterwards, says {Pomona, pref.), “ it was through the plain industry
of one Harris, a fruiterer to Henry V III., th a t th e fields and environs of about thirty towns in Kent
only, were planted with fruit from Flanders, to the universal benefit and general improvement of the
county.” Gibson ( Churches q fD o v c a u d H ome lac y ) mentions that Lord Scudamore, ambassador to the
court of France in the time of Charles I., collected in Normandy scions of cider-apple trees, and when
he returned to England, encouraged the grafting them througliout th e county of Hereford. Hartlib,
in 1650, speaks of “ one who had 200 sorts of apples,” and “ verily believes there are nearly .500 sorts in
this island.” Ray, in 1688, selected, from the information of th e most skilful gardeners, about London, a
list of 78 sorts. Succeeding writers havo been enabled greatly to increase th e list, partly from the
ahnost continual accession of sorts received from the continent during intervals of peace, but principally
from the great numbers raised from seeds. T h e second edition of the Catalogue q f Fruits,Y>\ih\\s[if:(X
b y th e Horticultuva! Society of London in 1831, contains th e names of 1400 sorts ol apples; and, although
some of these may, when Iruited, prove synonymous, yet th e subsequent accession of new collections
would doubtless extend the number of distinct sorts beyond 1500. A variety of apple, like those of most
other plants, is supposed by some to have only a limited d u ra tio n ; and hence, on taking a retrospective
view of the lists of sorts given by Parkinson, fivelyn, and other authors, many of them are not now to bo
found, or are so degenerated or diseased, as no longer to deserve the attention o fth e planter. “ The
Moil,” Knight observes, “ and its successful rival, tho Red-streak, with the Musts and Golden pippin,
arc in the last stage of decay, and the Stire and Fox-whelp are hastening rapidly after th em .” After
making a great variety of experiments for several years, and after many attempts to propagate the old
varieties of th e apple, this author observes { T r . o n Apple a n d P ea r , p. 15.), “ I think I am justified in
th e conclusion, th at all plants of this species, however propagated from the same stock, partake in some
degree of the same life, and will attend tho progress of th a t life, in the habits of its youth, its maturity,
and its decay; though they will not be any way affected by any incidental injuries the parent tree may
sustain after they are detached from it.”
4278. K n ig h t next directed his attention to raising new varieties from seeds; and has, by crossing one
sort with another, and by having constantly several thousands of seedlings rearing, from which, as they
show fruit, to select the best sorts, succeeded in producing several new varieties of apples, much esteemed
for the table and the press. Of several of these sorts, and how obtained, accounts will be found in tbe
work above quoted, and in tlie H o r tic u ltu ra l T ransac tions, and a compend of their history and projierties
will be found in our table. Several eminent horticulturists, in different districts, are now engaged in a
similar m an n e r; and there can be little doubt a valuable accession will, in a few years, be made to this
class of fruits. Some, however, as Williamson {H o r t. T?-rt«s., vol. iii. p. 291.), and Speechly {H in ts,
p. 188.), consider that the deterioration of th e apple and other fruit may be owing to th e climate, and
th a t the re turn o f genial summers would restore to us from old trees as good fruit as heretofore. Such
also is our opinion, ancl Knight’s doctrine appears to us contrary to general analogy in vegetable life.
It is unquestionably tru e that all varieties have a tendency to degenerate into the primitive character of
th e species; but to us it appears equally true, th a t any variety may be perpetuated with all its excellencies
by proper culture, and more especially varieties of trees. Iiowever unsuccessful Knight may
have been in continuing the Moil, Red-streak, and Golden pippin we cannot alter our conviction, that
by grafting from these sorts they may be continued, .such as they arc, or were when the scions were
taken from the trees, to the end of time. As to plants propagated by extension, “ partaking in .some
degree of the samo period of life as the parent,” we cannot admit tho idea as a t all probable. Vines,
olives, poplars, and willows havo been propagated by extension for ages, and are still, as far us can be
ascertained, as vigorous ns they were in the time of Noah or Pliny. If we are wrong fn this opinion,
we are open to correction.
4279. A g r e a t va r ie ty o f apple trees in a h earing state may be seen in different nurseries both in Britain
and Ireland, as was formerly the ca.se near London, till its increase ancl that of buildings in its vicinity,
encroached upon many of the fruit-tree nurseries. Where bearing trees are retained, the fruit may be
tasted from the trees, and either young plants newly xvorked, or plants in a state of bearing, fixed on and
marked, to be taken up a t the proper season. T h e advantages of this mode, especially to such as jiossess
but a small garden, are too obvious to require comment.
4280. The choice o f sorts depends on the object in view. The first thing an Inexperienced gardener has
to do is to consider the various domestic uses of the apple, and then determine what is wanted according
to the family or market to be supplied ; the next thing is to consider how those wants may be supplied in
his given soil, situation, and circumstances ; and the last thing is to study the catalogue of sorts, and
select accordingly.
428!. The fo llow in g so rts o f apples, e n um e ra ted as dessert, m a y also he u s ed as kitchen apples : —
Wormslcy pippin,Autumn pearmain, K ing o fth e pippins, F earn’s pippin, Ribston pippin, Herefordshire
pearmain, Pennington’s seedling, Reincttc du Canada, Dutch mignoune, Sweeney nonpareil, Downton
nonpareil.
4282. Am o n g those e n um e ra ted as kitchen apples the foUowing m a y be also u s ed f o r the dessert : —
Gravonstein, Blenheim pippin, Bedfordshire foundling, Brabant bellefleur, London pippin, Northern
greening, Rhode Island greening.
4283. Selections o f apples f o r cottage g a rd e n s . From th e list of apples already given, the extensive cultivator
will find no difficulty in forming his collection, for he could even try th e wholc ; he could plant
with sorts which he found he could obtain with the cleanest stems, and after proving the others, by
working several sorts on one tree, he could then easily transform the whole, by grafting, into th e kinds
which promised to succeed best in his particular soil or situation. T h ere is, however, another class, the
Possessors o f Cottage G ardens, who of course have not such means of trial in thcir power. It is, th erefore,
important for them to know the sorts best adapted for an extremely limited selection. Various
circumstances render this a diflicult point of information ; but th e following will, probably, convey
something useful on th e subject.
4284. For cottage g ard en s, ivhere the so il a n d situ a tio n a r c fa v o u ra b le f o r ihe p ro d u c tio n q f the apple,
ih c fo llow in g sorts a r e recommended b y M r .T h om p so n : — Ribston pippin. Blenheim pippin, Bedfordshire
foundling, Scarlet nonpareil, Baxter’s pearmain, Court-pendu-plat, Wormslcy pippin. King o f th e
pippins, Alfriston, Mère de ménage. If the space should not admit of so many, then, commencing with
th e Ribston pippin, take th a t number of sorts there may be room for, as they stand enumerated.
4285. For tr a in in g a g a in st cottages, or wa lls in cottage g a rd c iis. It often happens] that one or more
trees can be trained against a cottage wall or roof, or against some wall appertaining to a cottage ; in these
cases th e proper sorts are Ribston pippins, Scarlet nonpareil ; and, if a large kitchen apple be required,
th e Bedfordshire foundling.
4286. I n situatioris liable to s p r in g f r o s ts , which so often kill the blossoms of the generality of apples,
the Court-pendu-plat is recommendable, as its blossoms expand very late in the season.
4287. U nde r less fa v o u ra b le c ircuinstances, where th e Ribston pippin may not succeed, the B ed fo rd sh
ire fo u n d lin g will be a hardier substitute, or, B a x te r 's p e a rm a in , which is still hardier. T h e N o r th e rn
g r e e n in g may be planted for late kitchen use. For an autumn kitchen apple, perhaps, none in this case
IS more to be recommended than the Ke sw ic k codling. The H uw th om d e n comes into an abundant
bearing state at an early age ; and were it not liable to die offin some soils, it miglit be preferred to the
preceding.
4288. A w e t soil, and a cold bleak situation, are what the cottager has the greatest difficulty in contending
with : a poor soil he can enrich. In many instances it may be possible for him to remedy a wet
soil by drainage ; but in other cases, he m ay find this beyond his means. He should, however, take caro
to plant the tree very shallow, or even place it entirely on th e dug surface, and then cover the roots with
the best mould he can collect. This he should afterwards keep mulched if the weather become very
dry ; but otherwise, he should only keep the soil slightly stirred occasionally by a fork ; or, if this cannot
be done without injuring the roots, merely hoeing it will be better. In short, every thing should be
attended to that will encourage th e roots to run near the surface ; the latter should, therefore, be trod
upon as little as possible. Rotten manure will prove beneficial when the trees are not growing too
vigorously; even leaves could be collected and applied in a state approaching to vegetable mould.
4289. A n o th e r source o f choice may respect the soil, situation, and climate of the garden, or orchard, in
which they arc to be planted, or the character, whether of dwarfs, espaliers, or w'ail trees, which they
are to assume there. The winter and spring table apples may require a south wal! in cne district, while
in another they may attain equal maturity as standards or espaliers. Where there is ample room, a
selection of large sorts, as the Alexander and Blenheim pippin, or of such as are the most beautifully
coloured, as th e violet. Mère de ménage, &c., may be made to gratify th e eye ; where room is wanting,
useful sorts and great hearers are to be preferred, as the Ribston pippin, codlings, russets, Ac. In
general, small-fruited kinds are to bo preferred for standards, as less likely to break down the branches of
tho trees, ov bo shaken down by winds ; middling-sized sorts for walls and dwarfs, and the largest of all
for espaliers. In respect to a soil liable to produce canker, sorts raised from cuttings may be desirable,
as the Burknott and codling tribe ; and where an occupier of a garden has only a short interest therein,
such as come into immediate bearing, as the Burknotts, and otliers from cuttings, and the Hawthorn,
den, and other short-lived dwarf sorts on Paradise or creeping stocks, may deserve the jireference. On
the contrary, where a plantation is made on freehold property, or with a view to posterity, new varieties
on crab or free stocks should always be chosen. Some excellent sorts will grow and produce crops
every where, as th e Hawthornden, codling, and Ribston pippin ; the latter of which, Nicol says, will
grow a t John o’ Groat’s House, and may be planted in Cornwall ; others are shy bearers in cold situations,
as the Newtown pippin of America, and m ost of th e newly imported Frencli sorts.
4290. Choice o f p la n ts a n d p la n iin g . This depends in some degree on th e object in view, the richness
of th e soil, and the shelter ; young trees are more likely to succeed in exposed sites and poor soils, but
th e apple bears transplanting a t a greater age than any other fruit tree. It may be planted in any open
weather from November till Februaiy ; but autumn planting is generally to be preferred.
4291. N o complete a r ra n g em e n t o f apples h a s y c t been made iu tliis country, nor has such been satisfactorily
done on the continent. The difficulty of making such an arrangement will be considerable,
and the possibility of arriving at perfection in such an undertaking is rendered doubtful from the great
number of the varieties, and the want of permanently decisive characters among them. In tho mean
time, the following tables present a selection o fth e best sorts, arranged only as regards the purposes for
which they are chiefly useful ; and th e order of succession in th c ir ripening. This mode of arranging
the sorts will, it is presumed, enabio th e cultivator to keep a regular supply throughout the year. If at
any particular time of tho year he finds the demand more urgent, it will be advisable in that case to plant,
not only a greater number of trees that ripen about th e given time, but also a greater variety of sorts, so
that in case some should fail in bearing, there may be a chance of others being fruitful : for few sorts wil!
bear successively every season. Tliose who wish for m ore detailed descriptions, and forexcclient figures
of many of the sorts, we refer to Ronalds’s P y r u s M u lu s B r e n tfo rd ie n s is j und to those who wisli to make
themselves acquainted with th e numerous s^ionymes which belong to each kind, wo would recommend
the latest edition for the time being of th e Horticultural Society’s F ru it Catalogue. Tho tables have
been prepared for us by Mr. Thompson, of tho llorticultura! Society’s Garden, on which accoimt it is
hardly necessaiy for us to say that the most perfect coniidcucc may be placed in them.
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