THE ORCHARD. 77 



Pippins. On the other hand, we have some poor 

 and worthless sorts probably local varieties, 

 which no pomologist, however able and obliging, 

 would undertake to name. One of the prettiest of 

 Apples and one of the best, too is the Dela- 

 ware. It has an orange-red colour, and reminds 

 one almost of an Orange as it hangs upon the 

 tree. It has a crisp, delicious flavour, but requires 

 to be eaten as soon as it is ripe, for otherwise it 

 soon gets mealy. Indeed all eating apples, with 

 but few exceptions, are best when freshly gathered, 

 or, better still, when, on some clear soft day, they 

 have just fallen on the grass, and lie there, warmed 

 by the rays of the autumn sun. 



Of my Pears I have not much to say : the new 

 trees I have planted have hardly come into bear- 

 ing, and the old ones are of inferior quality. In 

 another year or two, however, I shall hope to be 

 supplied through all the winter months up to the 

 middle of the spring. Plums have done but little, 

 and Damsons, which are supposed to succeed so 

 well in Lancashire, are an absolute failure. I must 

 not forget the Red Siberian Crab, which has been 

 laden with fruit, and one tree of which should find 

 its corner in every garden. Last of all, I have 

 to speak of the Barberry. There is a great bush 



