FEBRUARY. 25 



of the varieties which Mr. Knight raised to supply the vacancy he 

 expected it to create. 



In the Brompton Park Nursery, where the same Golden Pippin 

 has been cultivated for nearly two centuries, and continued from year 

 to year by grafts taken from young trees in the nursery quarters, 

 I never saw the least disposition to disease, canker, or decay of any 

 kind ; but, on the contrary, a free, vigorous, and healthy growth. 



But this alarm of Mr. Knight for the safety of the Golden 

 Pippin, and his fear of its extinction, was based upon no new doc- 

 trine ; for we find Mortimer, a hundred years before, equally lament- 

 ing the Kentish Pippin. After speaking of manures, &c. for the 

 regeneration of fruit-trees, he says, " I shall be glad if this account 

 may put any upon the trial of raising that excellent fruit the Kentish 

 Pippin, which else, I fear, will be lost. For I find in several orchards, 

 both in Kent, Essex, and Hertfordshire, old trees of that sort, but I 

 can find no young ones to prosper. A friend of mine tried a great 

 many experiments in Hertfordshire about raising them, and could 

 never get them to thrive, though he had old trees in the same orchard 

 that grew and bore very well. I likewise tried several experiments 

 myself, and have had young trees thrive so well as to make many 

 shoots of a yard long in a year ; but these young shoots were always 

 blasted the next year, or cankered ; which makes me think that the 

 ancients had some particular way of raising them, that we have lost 

 the knowledge of.' Although this was written a hundred and fifty 

 years ago, we have the Kentish Pippin still, which, though not so 

 much cultivated, or so well known now as then, is nevertheless, 

 where it does exist, as vigorous and healthy as ever it was." 



WINTER PEARMAIN.— Ger. 



" Fruit large, three inches and a quarter wide, and about the same 

 in height ; of a true Pearmain shape, somewhat five-sided towards 

 the crown. Skin smooth and shining, at first of a greenish-yellow, 

 marked with faint streaks of dull red on the shaded side, and entirely 

 covered with deep red on the side next the sun ; but changes by 

 keeping to fine deep yellow, streaked with flesh colour on the shaded 

 side ; but of a beautiful, clear, deep red or crimson on the side next 

 the sun, and strewed all over with small russetty dots. Eye large and 

 open, with short segments, set in a pretty deep and prominently- 

 plaited basin. Stalk very short, not exceeding a quarter of an inch 

 long, inserted in a deep funnel-shaped cavity, which is lined with 

 russet. Flesh yellowish, firm, crisp, juicy, and sugary, with a brisk, 

 poignant, and very pleasant flavour. 



A highly-esteemed old English Apple, suitable principally for 

 culinary purposes, but also valuable for the dessert ; it is in use from 

 December to the end of April. 



The tree attains about the middle size, is a free and healthy 

 grower, and an excellent bearer. 



This is, 1 believe, the oldest existing English Apple on record. 

 It is noticed as being cultivated in Norfolk as early as the year 1200 

 — what evidence against Mr. Knight's theory ! In Blomefield's His- 



