420 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



BANK'S RED GRAVENSTEIN. 





ROSSING and hybridization are playing such 

 an important part in the production of the 

 new fruits of to-day that we are frequently 

 inclined to attribute to these 

 agencies the credit of pro- 

 ducing all the new and desir- 

 able varieties of fruit ; but 

 there is another agency to 

 which the gardener owes 

 much ; it is that force in 

 nature, the manifestation of 

 which the horticultural stu- 

 dent calls " sporting " or bud 

 variation. The landscape 

 gardener and florist is more 

 deeply indebted to this 

 peculiarity of plants than is 

 the fruit grower. We have but to look around us upon the numerous varieties 

 of ornamental shrubs, and upon rapid multiplication of types of flowers varying 

 from the original form, to see the confirmation of this statement. 



The Moss rose appeared first as a sport on a bush of the Provence or 

 Cabbage rose. The Pelargonium shows a remarkable tendency to bud varia- 

 tion, the many varieties of which are principally due to this tendency. 



The large number of variegated plants now in cultivation have all appearec 1 , 

 at different times, as single shoots upon the parent tree, and their peculiarities 

 are reproduced and multiplied by means of bud propagation. A striking 

 example in pomological lines of this force or power was recently noted in the 

 collection of apples exhibited at Chicago by the Province of Nova Scotia. 

 Among them was a variety called the " Bank's Red Gravenstein," which the 

 introducer, Mr. A. S. Banks, Waterville, N. S., claims, "appeared as a sport 

 upon the common Gravenstein tree in the orchard owned by E. C Banks, 

 Waterville, and that this branch has for thirteen years always borne apples that 

 were almost wholly red." In appearance it is rather rounder and possibly less 

 ribbed than the average Gravenstein : not quite as large, with a much more 

 brilliant color ; many specimens being entirely covered with deep crimson. In 

 quality there is little difference from the type. In season it is said to be two to 

 four weeks later. Its brilliant color and greater keeping qualities should add 

 much to its value. The following is a description made from a typical specimen 

 taken from the tables at Chicago, and the cut illustrates the same specimen : — 

 Medium size, round, regular ; calyx closed ; basin shallow, obscurely ribbed. 



