THE APPLE TREE ] 253 



large one, and is probably larger than that of any other 

 cultivated tree. However, it happens frequently that an 

 apple which does very well in one district and is there a 

 first class fruit, is found to give poor results and to 

 produce comparatively inferior fruit in another, and this 

 fact is not always accounted for by any great difference 

 of soil or climate, or by different methods of cultivation. 

 Unfortunately, most of the best English and continental 

 apples cannot be grown with success in our subtropical 

 climate. Many celebrated apples have been introduced 

 in these Islands during the last two decades, and their 

 cultivation was attempted experimentally either by bud- 

 ding or grafting on the doucin or on the paradise stock, or 

 by growing them on own roots, propagating them directly 

 by cuttings or layers. Accordingly, only a few of them 

 have thrived well enough, or have produced fruit of 

 sufficiently good quality to be recommendable for general 

 cultivation. Notwithstanding these difficulties the culti- 

 vation of the apple in Malta has extended considerably 

 in the last 50 years, so that at present we have many 

 more apple trees than pear trees and the surplus 

 production of fruit is often exported. 



The apple budded or grafted on own seedlings or 

 grown on own roots from cuttings or layers, thrives in all 

 soils, provided that they are deep and moderately moist, 

 with a porous and well-drained subsoil. Thrives better 

 in half- shaded situations than in full sunshine and 

 tolerates the shade better than the pear. Lands exposed 

 to the east or north-east, but out of the reach of sea 

 spray are eminently favourable for the apple. On deep 

 rather stiff and clayey soils, and in sheltered situations 

 the apple grows vigorously and in a few years may reach 

 a height of 4 to 5 metres. When grafted or budded on 

 the doucin and still more on paradise stock, the apple 

 becomes dwarfed and fit only for cultivation as cordons 

 or as low bush. For an open orchard, at any rate in our 

 climate, the tree should be grown on own roots or grafted 



