44 



THE GAEDENEK'S ASSISTANT. 



tuted for treacle, or, instead of either, J lb. of 

 Paris Green per 100 gallons can be added to the 

 copper sulphate and lime, and will constitute a 

 valuable combined fungicide and insecticide, the 

 lime in the Bordeaux mixture rendering the 

 Paris Green quite innocuous to the leaves. 



Bordeaux mixture should be applied in advance 

 of fungus attacks or at the first signs of disease, 

 as it is essentially a preventive. Where fungus 

 diseases have been prevalent in the previous 

 season, winter dressings should be applied two 

 or three times, especially just before the flowers 

 expand and again when they have fallen. For 

 all leaf diseases, and for the scab which attacks 

 both leaf and fruit in the Apple and Pear, the 

 Bordeaux mixture is a most useful dressing; 

 but in the case of some fungus diseases, which 

 have two stages of existence on different host 

 plants, it is essential that the original source be 

 discovered if the disease is to be exterminated. 



Another useful fungicide is the ammoniacal 

 solution of carbonate of copper, which can be 

 formed according to the American plan by dis- 

 solving 5 ozs. of carbonate of copper in 3 pints 

 of strong ammonia, and then adding to 45 or 

 50 gallons of water. It is especially useful as 

 leaving no sediment on the fruit. Potassium 

 sulphide or liver of sulphur is a useful fungicide, 

 used at the rate of 1 oz. to from 5 to 10 gallons 

 of water, with the addition of soft soap. The 

 reader should also consult the chapters on 

 " Insect Pests " and " Fungus Diseases ". 



[P, L. C] 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE APPLE. 



Evolution of the Apple — Systematic Improvement 

 — Flowering Periods — Interpollination and 

 Fertility— General Culture — Situation — Alti- 

 tude — Aspect — Soil — Preparation of the Soil 

 — Selecting Trees — Stocks and their Effects 

 — The Age of Trees — Time to Plant — Distances 

 for Trees — Marking the Stations — Stakes— Size 

 of Holes — Treatment of Trees on Arrival — 

 Planting — Apples for Market. 



The Apple takes first rank amongst the more 

 important hardy fruits cultivated in the United 

 Kingdom, and owes its high position to many 

 valuable qualities. In hardiness it is unsur- 

 passed, for, as regards the larger number of 

 varieties in British gardens, it is rare that the 

 lowest temperature experienced ever affects the 

 trees themselves to any serious extent. In very 

 low situations, and in seasons when the minimum 



temperatures have fallen to near the zero of the 

 Fahrenheit scale, we have known occasional 

 instances of bark injury resulting, but this has 

 been confined to a few varieties and generally 

 to trees on unsuitable stocks. Even in the 

 spring, frosts seldom damage the young foliage, 

 though unfortunately we have not yet secured 

 a race of Apples with flowers that can resist 

 frost. 



The Apple can be grown with a fair measure 

 of success over a greater area of our country, 

 and in a greater variety of soils and situations, 

 than any other fruit-tree, though its best quali- 

 ties and fullest capabilities are only developed 

 under special circumstances of soil and climate. 



Then, too, the season during which the fruits 

 can be had for use extends throughout the whole 

 year, no other fruit being so easily kept in a 

 fresh state for six to nine months, and at the 

 same time retaining all its characteristic pro- 

 perties. 



Though the Apple in its different forms does 

 not present such a variety of rich aromatic 

 flavours as the Pear, yet there is a wide range 

 of variation in degrees of sweetness and acidity, 

 as well as in flavour and other characters. In 

 appearance the Apple is unequalled in form and 

 colour variations, which alone would render the 

 fruit an interesting and delightful study. 



From a utilitarian or commercial point of 

 view also the Apple is highly important. The 

 rapidly extending and well founded apprecia- 

 tion of the fruit as an essential part of the food 

 of the people, has led to an enormous increase in 

 its cultivation in temperate climates, and there 

 appears to be every probability that for many 

 years to come this extension will be continued. 

 The safety with which the fruit can be packed 

 and transported long distances by road, rail, or 

 sea, has aided the advance in this respect, and 

 increased facilities in the future will still further 

 help in the same direction. 



In seasons of great abundance drying Apples 

 for home use or export has become a great part 

 of the fruit-preserving industry in America. It 

 has also been tried here when prices were very 

 low and the markets glutted, but as a rule the 

 demand for fresh Apples is sufficient to render 

 this method unnecessary. The usual form in 

 which the dried fruits are stored or sold is that 

 of Apple rings, which retain the flavour well 

 and are readily prepared for use. 



Several machines are in use for the purpose 

 of paring, coring, slicing, and drying or evapor- 

 ating Apples, and serviceable forms which have 

 been tried in Great Britain, as well as on the 



