^i BRITISH POMOLOGY, ETC. 



The tree is of a pyramidiil habit of growth, healthy, and an abundant 

 bearer. It succeeds well in almost any situation, provided the soil is rich, 

 loamy, and not too light or dry ; and may be grown with equal success 

 either on the doucin, or crab stock. When worked on the French para- 

 dise it is well adapted for pot culture. The fruit is firmly attached to 

 the spurs and forcibly resists the effects of high winds. 



It has been asserted, that this apple was brought from Peloponessus to 

 Rome, by Appius Claudius. Whether this be true or not, there can be 

 no doubt it is of great antiquity, as all the oldest authors regard it as the 

 production of an age prior to their own. Dalechamp and Harduin are 

 of opinion that it is the Petisia of Pliny ; but J. Baptista Porta considers 

 it to be the Appiana of that author, who thus describes it, " Odor est 

 his cotoneorum magnitude quae Claudianis, color rubens."* From this 

 description it is evident that two varieties are referred to, the Appiana 

 and Claudiana. Such being the ca^, J. Baptista Porta says, " duo sunt 

 apud nos mala, magnitudine, et colore paria, et preciosa, quorum unum 

 odorem servat cotoneorum, alterum minime. Quod odore caret, vulgo 

 dictum 3Ielo rosa. Id roseo colore perfusum est, mira teneritudine et 

 sapore, minime fugax, pomum magnitudine media, ut facile cum ceteris 

 de principatu certet, nee indignum Claudii nomine. Hoc Claudianum 

 dicerem."'' This Melo Rosa may possibly be the Pomme Rose or Gros 

 Api ; and if so, we may infer that the Api is the Appiana, and the Gros 

 Api the Claudiana of Pliny. This, however, may be mere conjecture, 

 but as the authority referred to, was a native of Naples, and may be sup- 

 posed to know something of the traditionary associations of the Roman 

 fruits, I have deemed it advisable to record his opinion on the subject. 

 According to Merlet, the Api was first discovered as a wilding in the 

 Forest of Api, in Brittany. 



Although mentioned by most of the early continental writers, the Api 

 does not appear to have been known in this country, till towards the end 

 of the 17th century. It is first mentioned by Worlidge, who calls it 

 " Pomme Appease, a curious apple, lately propagated ; the fruit is small 

 and pleasant, which the Madams of France carry in their pockets, by 

 reason they yield no unpleasant scent." Lister, in his " Journey to 

 Paris, 1698," speaking of this as being one of the apples served up in 

 the dessert, says, " Also the Pome d'Apis, which is sei-ved here more 

 for show than for use ; being a small flat apple, very beautiful, and very 

 red on one side, and pale or white on the other, and may serve the 

 ladies at their toilets as a pattern to paint by." De Quintinye calls it 

 " Une Pomme des Damoiselles et de bonne compagnie." 



Under the name of Lady Apple, large quantities of the Api are annu- 

 ally imported to this country from the United States, where it is grown 

 to a great extent, and produces a considerable return to the growers, as 

 it always commands the highest price of any other fancy apple in the 

 market. In the winter months, they may be seen encircled with various 

 coloured tissue papers, adorning the windows of the fruiterers in Covent 

 Garden Market. 



There are other varieties mentioned by J. B. Porta as belonging to the 

 Api family ; one Avhich ripened in August, in size like the Claudiana 



« Plinii Hist. NiU. Lib. xv., cap. 14. '' Villic, p. 278. 



