XIV 



IRISH GARDENING 



Some Notes on Apples at 

 Clonmel Show. 191 2. 



TIIKKK is no IViill show in Ireland wliere liner 

 apples are exhibited than that held for the past 

 two years in Clonmel by the Suir Valley Fruit 

 Cirowers' Association. At this show the first thing 

 that strikes a visitor is the keen interest taken in the 

 fruit by farmers and their knowledg-e of the numerous 

 \ arieties in the carefully-selected dishes of apples shown 

 l)y them, for \ery seldom will you find quality sacri- 

 ficed for mere size, as is so often seen in older-estab- 

 lished shows. .\nother thing that strikes you is the 

 beautiful colour of the apples, such varieties as Gas- 

 coii;ne's Scarlet, Co.x's I'omona, Worcester Pearmain. 

 and often Bismarck and Lane's Prince .\lbert being 

 entirely of a deep crimson colour and of extra large 

 size. In fact, nowhere have I seen finer fruit of the 

 two last-named varieties than that grown in the Piltown 

 district, and shown her'e in 191 1. Very few good dishes 

 of Cox's Orange Pippin were to be seen this year, and 

 the year may be said to be a bad one for this grand 

 dessert apple and its younger relative, Allington Pippin, 

 both shown so well in iqii. American Mother. Rival, 

 and King of Pippins were well exhibited ; a like remark 

 applies to the old Blenheim Orange to be seen in most 

 of the collections of dessert apples. Never have I seen 

 James Grieve at at a southern fruit show so sparingly 

 shown and of so poor quality. 



Several very good dishes of Ribston Pippin were 

 exhibited, and also Charles Ross, Wealthy and Fearn's 

 Pippin. In cooking apples a lovely dish of the new- 

 variety. Rev. Wm. Wilks, was shown by Mr. Tomlin, 

 gardener to Eaii of Be.sborough, Piltown. The fruits 

 were of a nice yellow colour and large, but lacked 

 weight, resembling in this respect Ecklinville .Seedling. 

 In another collection I saw a good dish of Norfolk 

 Beauty, a very firm, heavy fruit, of a pale straw colour, 

 with spots of crimson seen on parts of the skin. This 

 and Rival should make good market apples, as the 

 trees produce fruit buds freely. The apples are very 

 firm and will bear travelling well. 



Bramley's Seedling was largely shown and nearly 

 always of large size and high colour. The same may 

 be said of the Queen, and seldom have I seen this 

 variety better shown, and the samples that won in the 

 class for twenty-four cooking apples would be hard to 

 beat. The Queen is an apple that many fruit 

 growers condemn as being soft, and so easily injured 

 that it is quite unfit to grow for market, so that it is 

 not often planted in quantity, yet my experience of this 

 variety is that the tree is a good sturdy grower, free 

 fruiter, and with careful packing travels alright. Its 

 beautiful colour always causes the fruit to bring a high 

 price. 



Peasgood's Nonsuch was poorly shown for this 

 variety, lacking size and colour generally. Lord 

 Derby was very large, but often coarse, the fruits 

 hollow and a dull green colour. Mere de Menage was 

 to be met with in most of the collections, and no 

 variety of apple that I know of gives rise to greater 



difference of opinion as to quality ; anyhc>w, it is a useful 

 apple for cooking in the months of January and 

 Hebruarj*. 



Xewton Wonder was also largely shown, of good 

 colour, but the fruits were generally of small size. 

 Taking the show as a whole, and con.sidering the season, 

 the apples were very good, and shows the great pos- 

 sibilites o( Ireland for apple growing in the future if 

 only the sunnv south would take it up with the same 

 eTithusiasm as is now done in the black north. 



W. T. 



Catalogues. 



.MkssRs. Lrn i.t; & B.\i-i..\nivnk, Carlisle, send a copv 

 of their Planters' Ciuide, or Catalogue of Trees, 

 Shrubs, Roses, &c. This old-established firm has ex- 

 tensive nurseries, and grows trees and shrubs in huge 

 quantities, so consequently can supply at very reason- 

 able rates. We note that they have recently acquired 

 nearly 500 acres in the Cumberland hills for the raising 

 of forest trees. Trees grown in an exposed and high 

 situation are robust and transplant well. The catalogue 

 contains good lists of Conifers. Rhododendrons, ever- 

 greens, and ornamental trees and shrubs. Fruit trees 

 I receive due attention, and towards the end is a list of 

 herbaceous and .Alpine plants. Useful and interesting 

 information is given to the intending planter throughout 

 the pages of the list. 



Messrs: Chicm. & S<ins, of Crawley, are well known 

 in Ireland for having gained, in competition, important 

 contracts in the laying out of parks and pleasure 



1913 



New Volume 



IRISH GARDENING 



Tiiii new \oliinic will stistaiti the oltl 

 .stanJard ol' excellence a.s to authori- 

 tative articles on both the practical 

 and scientific side of gardening-, but 

 new features and new writers will be 

 introduced duriinj the course of the 

 year. Every Irish gardener and every 

 owner of any size garden in Ire- 

 land should obtain Irish c;.\Rr>E\iNf. 

 (monthly) and read it! and havini,-- 

 read it should preserve it for bind- 

 in"- — it is worth it. 



This year's volume (1912) can be 

 supplied bound in Green Cloth, in 

 time for Xmas, 4/11 post free. 



