THE APPLE 153 



soil has been filled in it should be two or three inches above the 

 ground level, so as to avoid the formation of a pit as it subsides. 



(vii) Water well, unless the soil is naturally well supplied 

 with moisture. 



(viii) Drive a stout stake firmly into the ground close to the 

 tree, and tie the tree to it with tarred string. This will support 

 the tree against the autumn and winter gales. The string should 

 be examined from time to time to make sure that it is not chafing 

 the bark. 



(ix) If there are any rabbits within reach they are almost 

 certain to nibble the bark of the tree in hard weather. It is 

 therefore important in such a case to protect the tree with wire 

 netting. This can only be done effectively by surrounding the 

 tree or the plantation with narrow meshed wire netting four 

 feet high, sunk into the ground to a depth of six inches, and having 

 another six inches underground bent at right angles to the plane 

 of the main piece and pointing away from the tree. If this 

 precaution is not taken the rabbits may burrow an entrance 

 under the netting. 



(x) Keep down all weeds round the young trees, and maintain 

 a surface mulch with the hoe, so as to prevent evaporation of 

 moisture. 



THE APPLE 



The Apple is an improved form of the Wild Crab which is 

 found growing in hedgerow r s in all parts of Great Britain. On 

 account of its productivity and high content (12 to 15 per cent.) 

 of sugar, starch, and organic acids it is the most valuable of 

 the British fruits. Although it may be profitably grown on 

 almost any soil, except a very shallow topsoil resting on gravel 

 or chalk, it thrives on a somewhat heavy loam, and there is 

 reason, moreover, to suppose that such a soil, containing a relatively 

 high percentage of ferric oxide, is, ceteris paribtis, the best of all. 



New varieties of Apples are obtained by cross fertilisation 

 of existing varieties and subsequent sowing of the pips of the 

 resulting fruits. Owing to the effects of reversion, however, not 

 more than one in a thousand of the seedlings will produce fruit 

 even passably good in flavour and quality. Multiplication of 



