APPLES. 201 



in an even and shallow basin. Stalk, very short, inserted in a very 

 narrow and shallow cavity. Flesh, pale yellow, firm and tender, juicy 

 and sugary, with a brisk and pleasant flavour. 



A very good apple for culinary purposes, and second-rate for the 

 dessert ; it is in use from December to April. 



The tree is an abundant bearer, and is extensively grown in the 

 western parts of Sussex, where it is esteemed a first-rate fruit. 



ROYAL RUSSET (Eeinette de Canada Grise ; Ednette de Canada 

 ritttte; Leather Coat}. Fruit, large, three inches and a half wide, and 

 two inches and three-quarters high ; roundish, somewhat flattened and 

 singular. Skin, covered with rough brown russet, which has a brownish 

 tinge on the side next the sun ; some portions only of the ground 

 colour are visible, which is yellowish green. Eye, small and closed, set 

 in a narrow and rather shallow basin. Stamens, marginal or median ; 

 tubo, conical or funnel-shaped. Stalk, half an inch long, inserted in a 

 wide and deep cavity. Flesh, greenish yellow, tender, crisp, brisk, 

 juicy, and sugary. Cells, roundish ovate ; axile, slit. 



A most excellent culinary apple of first-rate quality ; it is in use from 

 November to May, but is very apt to shrink and become dry, unless, 

 as Mr. Thompson recommends, it is kept in dry sand. 



The tree is of a very vigorous habit, and attains the largest size. It 

 is perfectly hardy and an excellent bearer. 



This has always been a favourite old English variety. It is mentioned by 

 Lawson so early as 1597, and is much commended by almost every subsequent 

 writer. It is not the true Leathercoat. See Leathercoat. 



ROYAL SHEPHERD. Fruit, above medium size, three inches 

 wide, and two and three-quarters high ; roundish, inclining to ovate, 

 slightly ribbed, and narrowing towards the eye. Skin, greenish-yellow 

 in the shade, but covered with dull red next the sun, and strewed all 

 over with minute russety dots. Eye, partially closed, with erect con- 

 vergent segments, set in a round and rather deep basin. Stamens, 

 median ; tube, funnel-shaped. Stalk, short, inserted in a deep funnel- 

 shaped cavity, which is lined with ramifications of russet. Flesh, 

 greenish white, firm, crisp, brisk, and pleasantly flavoured. Cells, 

 round ; axile, slit. 



A very good culinary apple, grown in the neighbourhood of Lancaster ; 

 it is in use during November and December, and will keep till March 

 or April. 



ROYAL SOMERSET. Fruit, rather above medium size, three 

 inches wide, and rather more than two inches and a quarter high ; 

 roundish ovate, generally higher on one side than the other, handsome 

 and regularly shaped. Skin, smooth, pale yellow, with a tinge of green 

 on the shaded side, but brighter yellow, marked with faint broken 

 streaks and mottles of crimson, on the side next the sun ; the whole 

 strewed with russety dots, which are most numerous in the basin of the 

 eye. Eye, large and open, with very short, stunted, erect, divergent 



