216 GAEDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



Dr. Kiddel enumerates as many as four varieties of Apple met 

 with in the Deccan, namely, two English varieties : 



1. The BROWN KUSSET (probably the kind before mentioned 

 as sent from Dnronda). 



2. A yellow striped PIPPIN. 



And two Persian sorts of a small description, commonly found 

 in most native gardens in the Deccan: 



1. One sweet and luscious, grows in bunches. 



2. A larger, with a rough taste, better adapted for tarts. 



A species of Apple, P. Indica,is found indigenous in the Khassya 

 Hills, of which ripe specimens were brought to me at Gowhatti 

 in the month of February. They were of the size and form of 

 the Golden Pippin, of a deep burnished gold colour, spotted 

 with crimson, and scarred a good deal with russet ; and of a fine 

 quince-like odour. They were too austere and tough to be eaten 

 raw. 



There are some localities, however, where it has been pretty 

 well decided that this fruit cannot be grown with any degree of 

 success. According to Dr. Gibson 



"The Apple attains some size in the higher level of Ahmed- 

 imggur, but it is not such as to be worthy of a rank with either 

 English or tropical fruits." * 



At Ootacamund, in the Nilgherries, where the Apple might 

 very reasonably be expected to thrive to perfection, I met with 

 nothing better than mere Crabs, both as regards size and flavour. 

 At Bangalore, too, another locality seemingly most favourable 

 for the growth of this fruit, several varieties were brought 

 me for sale when I was there in April, 1859. But nearly 

 all were unsound, and a most exorbitant price was asked for 

 them. 



At Calcutta the cultivation of this fruit has uniformly proved 

 a failure. In the year 1850 some young Apple-trees were brought 

 to Calcutta in a ship laden with ice from America. Being kept 

 dormant by the cold of the ice, on which they were laid, they 

 arrived in full health and vigour. They were purchased by the 

 Agri-Horticultural Society, and have by this time become large 

 thriving trees in their garden. They have blossomed often ; but 

 if they have set fruit, it has been only to drop it immediately 



afterwards. 



* Dr. Spry's ' Plants for India,' p. 62. 



