THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



APPLE (Pyrus Mains). The Apple is one of the most 

 useful, and probably most largely cultivated, of our hardy 

 fruits. It is known as the Crab in its wild state, and is 

 indigenous to Britain and to all the temperate and warmer 

 parts of Europe. It is supposed that the progenitors of the 

 varieties now grown were introduced to this country 

 at various times from the Continent, and not obtained here 

 as direct improvements on the native Crab. Those now 



FIG. 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. 



FIG. 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 



Apple continued. 



transplanted the following year, and so on until they are 

 of sufficient size for Grafting purposes. The standard of 

 excellence being at present so high, improved forms raised 

 from seed are comparatively scarce. 



Grafting. This method of propagation is the one 

 generally adopted for most purposes, the stocks being pre- 

 viously prepared for size or height of tree required. Cordon 

 and other dwarf-trained trees should be worked near but 

 not below the ground, while standards are best worked on 

 stocks of the desired height. The practice of working 

 standard trees low, and growing the scion to form the stem 

 of the future tree, is not recommended, as many of the 

 tenderer sorts will not grow straight or strong enough for 

 the purpose. Whip-grafting is the most preferable mode 

 adopted. The scions should be selected from healthy trees 

 not later than January, and laid in singly in the ground 

 until the stocks have slightly 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 Cuttings, Layers, Sfc. 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. 



Pruning. See Pruning. 



Training. See Training. 



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 advan- 

 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 free 

 from frost ; this condition cannot always be obtained during 

 winter. The effects of soil and situation have a very im- 

 portant bearing on the Apple, specimens of the same sort 

 from different places being often hardly recognisable. 

 Although not over fastidious in the matter of soil as far as 

 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. The 

 addition of heavier loam, or sometimes trenching and 

 mixing the sub-soil with that at the top, will convert light 

 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. Sank manure should on no account be used any- 

 where near the roots, but a little well-decayed manure, 

 mixed with the soil or used as a mulching, is beneficial. 

 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 blossom, 

 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 



