554 APPENDIX. 



many lamentations, scarcely less pathetic than those of Jere- 

 miah. 



Having stated the theories on this subject, and given an 

 outline of our explanation, let us glance for a moment at the 

 actual state of the so-called decayed varieties, and see whether 

 they are really either extinct, or on the verge of annihilation. 



Mr. Knight's own observations in England led him to con- 

 sider the English Golden Pippin and the Nonpareil, their two 

 most celebrated varieties of apple, as the strongest examples 

 of varieties just gone to decay, or, in fact, the natural life of 

 which had virtually expired twenty years before. A few years 

 longer he thought it might linger on in the warmer parts of 

 England, as he supposed varieties to fall most speedily into 

 decay in the north, or in a cold climate. 



Lindley, however, his contemporary, and second to no one in 

 practical knowledge of the subject, writing of the Golden Pippin,* 

 very frankly states his dissent as follows. " This apple is con- 

 sidered by some of our modern writers on Pomology, to be in a 

 state of decay, its fruit of inferior quality, and its existence 

 near its termination. I cannot for a moment agree with such 

 an opinion, because we have facts annually before our eyes 

 completely at variance with such an assertion. In Covent 

 Garden, and indeed in any other large market in the southern 

 or midland counties of England, will be found specimens of 

 fruit as perfect, and as fine, as have been figured or described 

 by any writer, either in this or any other country whatever. 

 Instead of the trees being in a state of " rapid decay " they may 

 be found of unusually large size, perfectly healthy, and their 

 crops abundant ; the fruit, perfect in form, beautiful in colour, 

 and excellent in quality." And the like remarks are made of 

 the Nonpareil. 



Certain French writers, about this time, gladly seized 

 Knight's theory as an explanation of the miserable state into 

 which several fine old sorts of pears had fallen, about Paris, 

 owing to bad culture and propagation. They sealed the death- 

 warrant, in like manner, of the Brown Beurre, Doyenne, Chau- 

 montel, and many others, and consigned them to oblivion in 

 terms which Mr. Kenrick has already abundantly quoted. 



Notwithstanding this, and that ten or fifteen years have since 

 elapsed, it is worthy of notice that the repudiated apples and 

 pears still hold their place among all the best cultivators in 

 both England and France. Nearly half the pear-trees annu- 

 ally introduced into this country from France, are the Doyenne 

 arid Beurre. And the " extinct varieties " seem yet to bid de- 

 fiance to theorists and bad cultivators. 



But half the ground is not yet covered. How does the theory 



* Guide to the Orchard, by George Lindley. 



