38 HISTORY OF FRUITS. 



" And Autumn, glutted with all sorts of fruit, 

 Shaking his hoary head, with apples deck'd." 



Having observed among the apples in Covent-garden 

 market, in 1819, a great quantity of the real Golden Pip- 

 pin in a perfect state, the author was induced to make 

 particular inquiries respecting this fruit ; and has received 

 satisfactory accounts from all quarters that these trees 

 are fast recovering from a disease, or canker, which appears 

 to have been brought on by a succession of unpropitious 

 seasons ; but that the summer of 1818, and the following 

 year, have greatly improved them. 



When the author had decided to publish this History 

 of Fruits, he waited on some gentlemen who are well 

 known in all parts of the world for their practical know- 

 ledge in the cultivation of apples. Mr. Hugh Ronalds, 

 jun. of Brentford, informed him that he had lately seen a 

 tree of the Golden Pippin kind, which had been planted 

 against a wall in a south aspect, which was in a thriving 

 condition, and the fruit in a perfect state. Mr. Ronalds, 

 sen. assured him it was the true Golden Pippin, and that 

 there is no fear of losing this variety. 



Mr. Lee, of Hammersmith, who politely shewed me 

 500 various kinds of apple-trees, was decidedly of opinion 

 that the apparent decay of some trees was owing to the 

 unfavourable springs we have had for several years. 



Mr. Knight, of the King's Road, Chelsea, has also fa- 

 voured us with his opinion, which perfectly agrees with 

 that of Mr. Ronalds and Mr. Lee. Mr. Knight added, 

 that if this spring and summer should be as favour- 

 able as the two last seasons, he should be able to shew 

 this and other old varieties of the apple-tree in as perfect a 

 state as they have ever been known. Since the first edi- 

 tion of this work was printed, we have had opportunities 

 of making observations and farther inquiries as to the 





