e Perr te tee 
©. aD Sage r 
ee ee a ie s> AAR 
= THE DICTION OF GARDENING, ` 
Apple—continued. t e rer Fa ` -Arra Tilionin ry * z Er 
fruits. Itis known as the Crab in its wild state, and, he | ‘transplanted the. following year, and go on until they are ~ 
indigenous to Britain and to all the temperate and warr 
parts of Europe. SdPeupposed tig he ogenitord ofthe 3 
race of varjetiog now grown were introduced to this country 
at various timeS from the Continent, andnot obtained here | 
as direct improv son the native Crab. _ Those mes 
a 3 ’ 
= 
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Ea 
v 
x 
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5 
=- 
Fic. 121. APPLE BLOSSOM. 
cultivated are extremely numerous, and include good 
varieties that can be made to prolong the season all the 
year round. Apart from its great value as a fruit, the 
apple is a strikingly handsome tree when in flower (see 
Fig. 121). A fruiting branch is shown at Fig. 122. 
Pees 
Fic. 122. FRUITING BRANCH OF APPLE. 
Propagation. Seeds are sown ‘extensively, chiefly for 
raising stocks to graft approved sorts on; also with a view 
to raising new varieties. The seeds do not retain their 
germinative properties very long, consequently they must 
be sown soon after being taken from the fruit. As grown 
in this country, they are generally sown in the autumn, 
|. generally adopted. for most purposes, the stocks being pre- 
`- [and other dwarf-trained trees should be worked near but 
‘of sufficient size for Grafting purposes. The standard of 
extellence being at present’ so‘high, improved forns raised 
from seed arë coinparatively scarce, n ú : 
Grafting.. “Thi method of, propagation is the one. 
* 
> viotsly prepared for size or height of tree required. Cordon 
not below the-ground, while standards are best worked on 
stocks of the desired height. The practice of working 
standard trees low, 'añd growing the scion to form the stem 
of the. future “tree, is not re¢ommended, as many of the 
_tenderer sorts will"fot grow straight or strong enough for 
the purpose. Whip-grafting is the most preferable mode 
F adopted. “The gcions should lected from healthy trees 
“not later than-Jantiiry, and lid in singly in the ground 
untilithe stocks haverslightly advanced in growth, which is 
generally about the middle of April. Several other methods | 
of Grafting may be adopted With success, but the one above" 
recommended is considered the best. 
Budding. Apples may be successfully propagated by 
Budding, and this method is practised much more now than - 
formerly, It has many advantages, as it requires to be 
performed at a season when there is not so much work in 
hand. It should be done in damp, dull weather, if possible, 
as the weather if dry soon destroys the buds. July and 
August is the proper time for the purpose. The stocks — 
and woods from which the buds are taken should be as 
much as possible in the same condition. 
Propagation by Outtings, Layers, fc. This system may 
be made use of in the case of new varieties or where it is 
desired to increase any one variety with a limited number 
of scions, but the results are uncertain—at least in the 
case of cuttings ; consequently, it is much better to resort 
to the safer method of Grafting. an 
Pruning. See Pruning. 
Training. See 
Planting. The best time to plant is as soon as most of. - 
the leaves have fallen, which is generally about the’end of «© 
October. The roots being then in an active state, and the * 
ground still retaining a certain ‘amount of heat, they;will < 
form new roots before winter, which is a material adyan- ` p 
tage. Where it is impossible to plant at this time, it may © | 
be done in suitable weather any time during the winter, — ~~ 
but it is best not deferred till spring. It is important in, * ~ 
planting that the soil should be moderately dry and frée_ à 
from frost ; this condition cannot always be obtained during, a 
winter. The effects of soil and situation have a very Imr. — 
portant bearing on the Apple, specimens of the same sort * 
from different places being often hardly recognisable, F 
Although not over fastidious in the matter of soil as far ås 
growing is concerned, the best results are obtained where 
it is of a rich loamy character and well drained. Dry, 
sandy soils invariably produce canker, while the trees are 
often overgrown with lichens in undrained land. e 
addition of heavier loam, or sometimes trenching and 
mixing the sub-soil with that at the top, will convert lig! 
soils into those suitable for Apple culture; while, on the 
other hand, heavy soils may be improved by drainage, the 
addition of lime, vegetable refuse, burnt earth, and other 
matters. Rank manure should on no account be used any- 
where near the roots, but a little well-decayed manure, F 
mixed with the soil or used as a mulching, is beneficial. a 
The site best suited is an open, though not exposed one, =< 
with a south, south-east, or south-west aspect. Shelter 
from north-east winds in spring, which destroys the bloom, 
and from west and south-west winds in autumn, „which 
blow down the fruit, should be the aim of cultivators. 
Planting in a valley should be avoided on account of spring 
frosts. In Planting, care must be taken to make the 
bottom of the hole tolerably firm, and slightly raised under 
* 
the base or bole of the tree. The roots should then be J 
i 
