THE APPLE. — ITS VARIETIES. 71 



with patches of thin russet, and large russety dots, particularly over the 

 base ; and mottled with pale red on the side exposed to the sun. Eye, 

 closed, set in a deep and angular basin. Stalk, about three quarters of 

 an inch long, inserted in a deep cavity which is lined with russet. Flesh, 

 greenish-yellow, firm, crisp, juicy, brisk, and sugary, with a rich aromatic 

 flavor. 



This is a valuable and very excellent apple, suitable either for dessert 

 use, or culinary purposes. It is in use from December to March. In 

 his letter to Mr. Forsyth, referred to above, Mr. Dredge says, " This is 

 the best apple yet known ; in eating from Easter till Midsummer — most 

 excellent." 



The tree is hardy, a vigorous grower, an early and abundant bearer, 

 but according to Rogers, liable to be attacked by the woolly aphis ; 

 still I have never found it more susceptible of that disease than most 

 other varieties. 



There are several other varieties mentioned by Forsyth as seedlings 

 of Dredge's, which I have not met with, as Dredge's Queen Charlotte, 

 Dredge's Russet, and Dredge's Seedling. I have also in my collection, 

 Dredge's Emperor and Lord Nelson, both of which are grown in the 

 West of England, but I have not yet had an opportunity of seeing the 

 fruit. It is, however, a question whether these are really seedlings of 

 Dredge's or not ; there are several varieties to which he affixed his name, 

 which have been ascertained to be identical with others that existed 

 before him, such as Dredge's White Lily, which is synonymous with 

 Devonshire Buckland, and Dredge's Beauty of Wilts, which is the same 

 as Harvey's Pippin. Such instances tend to weaken our faith in the high 

 encomium passed upon him, by Rogers, of Southampton, in the " Fruit 

 Cultivator," and induce us to class him with those who not only change 

 the name of some varieties, and append their own to others under the 

 pretence of their being new, and seedlings of their own, but dispose of 

 them at greater prices than they could have procured, had they been sold 

 under their correct names. We have but to glance over the Horticul- 

 tural Society's Catalogue, or the Index to this work, to find numerous in- 

 stances confirmatory of this statement. 



99. DUCHESS OF OLDENBURGH.— Hort. 



Ideniification.— Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 221. Down. Fr. Amer. 82. Kon. Pyr. 

 Mai. 12. 



Figure. — Eon. Pyr. Mai. pi. vi. f. 6. 



Fruit, large, about three inches and a quarter wide, and two inches 

 and a half high ; round, and sometimes prominently ribbed on the sides 

 and round the eye. Skin, smooth, greenish-yellow on the shaded side, 

 and streaked with broken patches of fine bright red, on the side next 

 the sun, sometimes assuming a beautiful dark crimson cheek ; it is 

 covered all over with numerous russety dots, particularly round the eye, 

 where they are large, dark, and rough. Eye, large and closed, with long 

 broad segments, placed in a deep and angular basin. Stalk, long and 

 slender, deeply inserted in a narrow and angular cavity. Flesh, yellow- 



