ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



XXXIV. — 071 the Canker in Apple Trees. By Mr. Robert 

 Errington, C.M.H.S., Gardener to Sir P. de Malpas Grey 

 Egerton, Bart., MP., F.H.S., Oulton Park, Tarporley, 

 Cheshire. 



(Communicated July, 184G.) 



As the pages of the Journal of the Horticultural Societj' are 

 open to practical as well as scientific papers on gardening sub- 

 jects, I beg to offer a few remarks on the canker in apple-trees. 



I am persuaded that immaturity of wood is the chief cause ; 

 and that this immaturity is caused by a course of culture foreign 

 to the habits of the tree. 



The wild crab in tlie hedgerow or the forest is not pampered 

 like a garden Ribston pippin. In the latter case, the overgrown 

 shoots are frequently extending themselves in the end of August : 

 the hedge-crab in the mean time having long ceased to grow. 

 The one still receiving fresh supplies of crude sap — the other 

 busied with its secretions. I believe that a bad habit thus super- 

 induced becomes, after a few repetitions of the abuse, perpetuated, 

 and that " the wearing out of races," as it is termed, although 

 perhaps not confined to this cause alone, is a necessary conse- 

 quence, Avith regard to fruit-bearing trees. 



I think that I shall be borne out in the opinion, that gross, 

 long-jointed, and succulent-wooded trees, have been found more 

 liable to this evil than others. Such wood will be looked 

 for in vain in the hedge-crab, and is, I presume, the result of 

 over-cultivation alone. The newly planted apple-tree is ma- 

 nured, wliilst the old and overworked is neglected. I am quite 

 of opinion that some portion of this evil is traceable to the treat- 

 ment this tree receives in the nurseries, and I may add has re- 

 ceived for, it may be, centuries. It is well known that the pri- 

 mary object (with our modern nurserymen at least) is to pro- 

 duce a very fine tree in a very short period. Ripening of the 

 wood is scarcely recognised in these establishments — at least, is 

 a principle never carried out. " Good clean wood," to use a 

 more technical phrase, is the object ; and this high-sounding title, 

 when properly translated, merely signifies bloated and ill ripened 

 wood, at least in most of our tender fruit-trees. 



The bloated tree, then, is purcliased, and moved to the gar- 

 den, and in many cases consigned to a station which would be far 

 more eligible for a bed of celery. This tree, in the second year, 

 will of course be considered by the inexperienced a magnificent 



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