Encyclopaedia of Gardening 1 4 1 



but are budded or grafted on to allied plants. The reason of this is 

 that better habit, or earlier fruiting, as the case may be, is secured. 

 At the outset, therefore, of a consideration of Apples we have to 

 treat the question of stocks. The best stock for " standard " trees 

 that is, trees with a branching head springing from a long, clean 

 stem is the English Crab. It is very hardy, very healthy, and has- 

 a strong rooting system. It does not, however, give early fruit. 

 The best stocks for dwarf trees, the branches of which spring from 

 a main stem a foot or two from the ground, are the Broad-leaved 

 English Paradise and the Nonsuch. Both of these give good habit, 

 abundance of surface roots, and early fruiting. When comparing 

 the cost of Apple trees from different dealers the stock used should 

 be taken into account. " Free " stocks are cheaper than Crabs, 

 and the narrow-leaved French Paradise is cheaper than the broad- 

 leaved English. The stocks are raised from seed, cuttings, or layers ; 

 and should be ready for " working " in their third year. Budding : 

 In budding a stock, a young shoot of the Apple which is to be propa- 

 gated is taken about midsummer, and slices about i-|- in. long are 

 removed under the leaves. The pith is picked out without tearing 

 away the growing germ, the leaf is cropped in to the stalk, and the 

 " bud " is inserted in a T-shaped slit made in the main stem of the 

 stock near the ground, and tied with raphia. It will grow the 

 following spring; if it dies, the top of the stock should be cut off 

 and a whip or tongue graft put on. This is a piece of Apple shoot 

 about 4 ins. long and as thick as a lead pencil. For further parti- 

 culars, see Grafting. The propagation of fruit trees is not much 

 done in private gardens, being left to trade specialists. Planting .- 

 Apples may be planted from November to March inclusive. For 

 details, see above. Soil : The best soil for Apples is friable, well- 

 drained loam or brick-earth. Chalk in the form of ragstone rock is- 

 good as a deep subsoil, being relatively warm and well drained, but 

 is not suitable for most varieties when it lies close to the surface. 

 Undrained clay is Mel for most sorts. Site, Staking, Manure, 

 Priming : See und Fruit above. Training : Apples may be 

 grown as open bushes, standards, cordons, and espaliers; for details, 

 see under Fruit above. Open bushes on the Paradise stock are best 

 for garden quarters, standards for orchards, cordons for walls, and 

 espaliers for wire frames at the side of paths. Varieties : The fact 

 that the sorts of Apples vary, not only in their flavour, but in their 

 season of maturing and their suitability for particular soils, renders 

 the matter of selection a difficult one. The following suggestions 

 may be found helpful : 



Good Cooking Apples. 

 Lord Grosvenor 

 Early Victoria 



Bismarck Lane's Prince Albert 



Stirling Castle 

 Ecklinville Seedling 

 Royal Jubilee 

 Lord Derby 

 Peasgood's Nonsuch 



Golden Spire 

 Warner's King 

 Wellington 

 Newton Wonder 



Bramley's Seedling 



Good Dessert Apples* 

 Gladstone 

 Beauty of Bath 



