APPLES. 63 



size, and is a free and early bearer, being generally well sot with fruit 

 buds. It requires a rich soil and warm situation. 



There is another apple totally di Ho rent from this to which the name 

 of Drap d'Or is applied. See FcnuuiUet Juune. 



Dredge's Beauty of Wilts. See Harvey's Pippin. 



DREDGE'S FAME. Fruit, medium sized, two inches and three- 

 quarters wide, and two inches and a half high ; round, inclining to 

 ovate, obtusely angular. Skin, smooth, dark green all over, but with 

 a few broken streaks of crimson on the side next the sun ; as it 

 ripens it assumes u yellowish tinge. Eye, partially open, with erect 

 convergent segments, which incline to divergent, set in a narrow and 

 shallow saucer-like basin. Stamens, marginal ; tube, funnel-shaped. 

 Stalk, about three-quarters of an inch long, slender, inserted in a 

 pretty deep cavity. Flesh, greenish, tender, crisp, very juicy, sweet, 

 and with a fine aroma. Cells, obovate ; axile, closed. 



This is a valuable and very excellent apple, suitable either for des-. rt 

 use or culinary purposes. It is in use from December to March. In 

 a letter to Mr. Forsyth, Mr. Dredge says, " This is the best apple yet 

 known ; in eating from Easter till Midsummer most excellent." 



The tree is hardy, a vigorous grower, an early and abundant bearer, 

 but according to Rogers, liable to be attacked by the woolly aphis ; 

 still, I have never found it more susceptible of that disease than most 

 other varieties. 



DREDGE'S QUEEN CHARLOTTE. Fruit, medium sized, two 

 inches and three-quarters wide, and about the same in height ; roundish, 

 inclining to ovate, with prominent ribs, which terminate in knobs round 

 the eye ; it is generally higher on one side of the eye than the other. 

 Skin, when quite ripe, greenish yellow on the shaded side, but on tho 

 side next the sun it is entirely covered with brilliant crimson ; the 

 surface has patches of russet and large russet dots, like freckles. Eye, 

 closed, with broad convergent segments, deeply set in an uneven basin. 

 Stamens, median ; tube, short, funnel-shaped. Stalk, long, stout, and 

 curved, inserted in a deep cavity. Flesh, tender, juicy, sweet, and of 

 good flavour. Cells, roundish obovate ; axile. 



A showy, long-keeping, handsome apple, which lasts \vell till March. 



I am indebted to Mr George Bunyard, nurseryman, of Maidstone, for a know- 

 ledge of this old and useful apple. 



There, are several other varieties mentioned by Forsyth as seedlings of Dredge's, 

 which I have nut met with, as Dredge's Russet and Dredge's Seedling. I had in 

 my collection Dredge's Emperor and Lord Nelson, both of which are grown in the 

 West of England, but I have not had an opportunity of seeing thelfruit. It is, 

 however, a <pu'sn.n whether these are really seedlings of Dredge's or not ; there 

 are several varieties to which he affixed his name which have been ascertained to 

 be identical with others that existed before his time, such as Dredge's White Lily 

 which is synonymous with Devonshire Buckland, and Dredge's Beauty of Wilt"' 

 which is the same as Harvey's Pippin. 



