16 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[^January, 



THE BLENHEIM PIPPIN. ] 



BY \V., TYKONK, I'A. I 



This apple supplies !i nntable proof of the base- 1 

 leasnessoftheeoininon idea.that an apple orij^ina- 

 ting in a certain locality, jnust, of course, possess 

 a constitution specially suited to that locality or 

 latitude. A second thought ought to disprove 

 such a notion, for if it had any foundation we 

 could soon acclimatize Southern grains, &c., by 

 merely planting; their seeds in Northern soil. 



The Blenheim is an English ai)itle. Now, the 

 sorts of apples grown in England, like the kinds 

 of wheat, (fee, grown there, are such as will suc- 

 ceed well in humid, cool air, and with slowly 

 m^Dving growth. They mostly fail in our climate, 

 some one or other, or all, of the new conditions 

 being unfavorable. But the Blenheim is a sort 

 of such remarkable vigor— so stout in branch 

 and bark and leaf— that it endures all the trials 

 that our climate imposes. Mr. Downing says 

 that Canadian correspondents write to him that 

 it is most successful there, while here in the 

 Middle States and through the West, and as far 

 south P.S Virginia at least, it is constantly re- 

 ported as admirably fine and fruitful. 



All this relates to the true sort, which in Eng- 

 land brings eleven shillings a bushel when com- 

 mon apples only bring four. Yet it is most vig- 

 orous and productive there, as well as here. 

 There it keeps all winter; here it ripens in the 

 autumn and keeps till January. 



The description of the Blenheim Pippin given 

 in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees was taken 

 from some spurious source. The true sort is 

 partially described as the Blooming Orange in 

 the large edition of 1869. Mr. Downing has 

 since identified this as the true Blenheim. 



It is a high-class example of the type of fine 

 English dessert apples, having the wide-open, 

 eye, the richly-stained — almost mahogany color, 

 and the crisp, pungent flesh, which mark their 

 table-apple. When in perfection, towards holi- 

 day time, it has an aroma or bouquet which re- 

 minds one of the subtle flavor which connoiseurs 

 in wine will smack lips and tongue over, while 

 they seem to concentrate all powers of sensation 

 in the palate in order to secure and enjoy it. 



This sort is a great bearer, but not an early 

 one. Like other strong growers, it first makes 

 a good deal of wood. But when it sets into 

 bearing it is profuse and unfailing — wonderfully 

 so, considering the size, weight and perfection of 

 the fruit. It is now pretty widely distributed 

 through the States. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Bananas in California. — A correspondent of 

 the London Gardener's Chronicle says the Banana 

 hiis been found very profitable in the vicinity of 

 Santa Barbara, and that acres of them will soon 

 be growing tliere. It takes four hundred plants 

 to the acre. 



ViCOMTESSE HERICART DE THURY. — With all the 



new introductions this continues the most popu- 

 lar strawberry in England. 



Raspberry Culture.— F. M., Cecil Co., Md., 

 writes : — " I send you the enclosed extract from 

 an ' authority.' It does not agree with my ideas; 

 what do you say? " "They should never be set 

 in an orchard beneath the trees. An open, sun- 

 ny situation ought always to be selected. The 

 ground, which should be deep and rich, will be 

 highly benefited by a mulching of long, strawy 

 manure, both summer and winter; and cleanli- 

 ness and order must prevail in all their surround- 

 ings. Raspberries should not be planted deep. 

 Many a plantation has been lost from this error, 

 notwithstanding the soil has been in good condi- 

 tion and the plants entirely sound and healthy. 

 Give the crown at the apex of the roots a very 

 slight covering with soil." 



[It may be very good advice for a high north- 

 ern region, but for yours and other central States, 

 we agree with you, it is very bad advice. — Ed. G. 

 M.] 



A Large Bunch of Grapes. — The Dublin Gar- 

 dener's Record says :— "At Latimers, Chesham, the 

 seat of Lord Chesham, Mr. A. Donaldson, the 

 gardener, has produced, according to the Buck- 

 inghamshire Advertiser, a monster bunch of Treb- 

 biano Grapes, measuring two feet across the top, 

 and about the same measurement from stalk to 

 point. It is calculated to weigh twenty-four 

 pounds." Such a statement as this is worth 

 verifying. 



Fall Strawberries. — A strawberry grower in 

 England is making a fortune by taking plants 

 that have been used for winter forcing, and en- 

 couraging them to go on and bear again. They 

 flower freely in the Fall, and bear full and very 

 profitable crops. There is the germ of a good 

 idea here, well worth looking after by our own 

 market men. 



The Ben Davis Apple. — This variety, as we 

 judged by the frequency of its appearance at the 

 Centennial, holds its own as a popular western 

 apple. 



