22 THE FRUIT MANUAL. 



greenish yellow, tender, juicy, rich, and sugary. Cells, open, pointed, 

 oblato-obovate. 



A dessert apple of first-rate quality, in use from November to 

 January. 



BETTY GEESON. Fruit, two inches and three-quarters wide, 

 and two inches high, quite flat and with obtuse ribs on the sides. 

 Skin, smooth and shining, of a fine bright yellow colour, and a deep 

 blush on the side next the sun. Eye, large, open, with divergent 

 segments, and set in a deep, wide, and irregular basin. Stamens, 

 median ; tube, funnel-shaped. Stalk, over half an inch long, slender, 

 deeply set in a wide cavity. Flesh, white, tender, sweet, and with a 

 brisk acidity. Cells, obovate, open. 



A valuable late-keeping kitchen apple, which continues in use till 

 April or May. The tree is a great bearer, and from its small growth 

 is well adapted for bush culture. 



In the last edition of this work I described Betty Geeson as a Yorkshire apple. 

 It is really a Worcestershire variety, and was sent to a meeting of the British 

 Pomological Society, in 1854, by Dr. Da vies, of Pershore, by whom grafts were 

 distributed among the members of the Society. 



Bide's Walking-stick. See Burr-knot. 



BIGGS'S NONESUCH. Fruit, medium sized ; round, and broadest 

 at the base. Skin, yellow, striped with bright crimson next the sun. 

 Eye, open, with long reflexed segments, set in a wide and deep basin. 

 Stalk, short and deeply inserted. Flesh, yellowish, tender, and 



An excellent culinary apple, in use from October to December. It 

 is fit for use immediately it is gathered off the tree, and has a strong 

 resemblance to the old Nonesuch, but keeps much longer. 



The tree is hardy and an excellent bearer ; attains to the medium 

 size, and is less liable to the attacks of the woolly aphis than the old 

 Nonesuch. 



This variety was raised by Mr. Arthur Biggs, gardener to Isaac Swainson, 

 Esq., of Twickenham, Middlesex. 



BIRDSTOW WASP (Wasp Apple). Fruit, large, three inches and 

 a quarter wide, and two inches and a half high ; roundish oblate, 

 irregular in its outline, having several prominent ribs which extend to 

 the crown, but sometimes the shape is more regular. Skin, smooth, 

 deep lemon yellow where shaded, and with a red cheek where exposed 

 to the sun, and which is splashed with broken streaks of crimson. 

 Eye, large, with broad convergent segments set in a pretty deep 

 angular basin. Stamens, median ; tube, funnel-shaped. Stalk, very 

 short, set in a shallow, narrow cavity. Flesh, soft and tender, mild, 

 and with little or no flavour. Cells, ovate, large, abaxile, and Codlin- 

 like. 



early cooking apple, ripe in September and October. 



