THE FRUIT GARDEN 



THE APPLE AS A CORDON ON WALLS 



It is very rarely that apple trees are promoted to the dignity of a position 

 on a wall, but there are occasions which justify this method of culture, 

 and when such favour is shown, the apples prove to be larger, of better quality 

 and flavour, and much improved in colour and appearance. In many Scottish, 

 North, and North Midland counties, conditions are so unfavourable to the 

 culture of our best dessert apples that if these are to be had in anything like 

 good condition, either for dessert or for exhibition, a wall must be had recourse 

 to ; even those more favoured by climatic conditions who wish to grow the 

 apple to the highest excellence out of doors, should plant a few cordon trees 

 on their walls. There are many vacant spaces between existing trees that 

 would hold a cordon or two without inconvenience, but where it can 

 be given, a west aspect, no doubt, would be best. The finest apples I have 

 ever seen were grown on the slated roof of a shed in a garden in North Wales, 

 Bodnant, near Conway. These were tall standards planted against the wall 

 of the shed, and the trees were trained over the roof. This is a plan worth 

 following, plenty of such roofs exist in gardens, and at present give no return 

 whatever. 



The following dessert varieties would well repay the grower for any space 

 on a wall devoted to them : — 



Beauty of Bath, Irish Peach, Kerry Pippin, Lady Sudeley, Worcester Pearmain, 

 James Grieve, Cox's Orange Pippin, Ribston Pippin, Cox's Pomona, Mother, Washing- 

 ton, AUington Pippin, Gascoigne's Scarlet, Scarlet Nonpareil, King of Tompkin's County, 

 Rosemary Russet, Team's Pippin, Court Pendu Plat (all the above are also suitable for 

 exhibition) ; King of the Pippins, Brownlee's Russet, Adam's Pearmain, Allen's Ever- 

 lasting, Mabbott's Pearmain, Blenheim Orange, Sturmer Pippin. 



The following varieties, although not strictly dessert, are indispensable for 

 exhibition : — 



Red Astrachan, Emperor Alexander, Peasgood's Nonsuch, White Transparent, 

 Duchess of Oldenburg, The Queen, Golden Noble, Bismarck, Beauty of Kent, William's 

 Favourite, Newton Wonder, Calville Blanche.! 



The last-named beautiful and delicious apple succeeds best when grown in 

 pots under glass, but may be planted against a warm wall with fair prospect 

 of success. 



The Hundred Best Apples 



Adam's Pearmain, T. — Skin, slightly rough and dry ; ground colour, bright yellow 

 with coppery red, striped deeper red, spotted and patched with russet ; flesh, tender, 

 greenish white ; stalk, set in starry russet basin ; flavoicr, sweet and rich, first-class ; 

 season, November to January ; growth, compact, moderate. A pretty, high-coloured 

 dessert variety, worthy of a place in a select collection. It is often more pointed than the 

 figure. Of average fertility. 



Alfriston, K. — Skin, smooth ; colour, pale greenish yellow netted with thin 

 russet, flecks of green under the skin ; flesh, tender, juicy ; flavotir, sweet and pleasant ; 



