APPLE. 



37 



early and good bearer, and forms a handsome orchard 

 tree of the second class ; no other sort answers 

 better either for dwarfs or espalier training. The 

 fruit is rather above the middle size, handsomely 

 shaped, eye small, stalk short : the major part of 

 the skin is curiously marbled with red and yellow, 

 sometimes striped with red next the sun, and of an 

 olive green on the other side. The flesh is white, 

 melting, and full of a pleasant juice, having a peculiar 

 flavour. The wood and leaves are remarkable ; the 

 former being somewhat thorny, the latter covered 

 with a whitish dust, which thickens in dry weather, 

 inviting, the author thinks, the attack of the Ame- 

 rican blight, to which this apple is very subject, it 

 is perhaps on this last account that tlie nonsuch is 

 not so much cultivated as it used to be fifty years 

 ago ; but certainly, if the tree be planted on a 

 suitable soil, and can be kept free from the mealy 

 aphis, no other sort gives more satisfaction. 



15. Flower of Kent. — This is a large apple, ripen- 

 ing in October. The shape is rather flat and irre- 

 lar ; of a fine red colour next the sun, and slightly 

 streaked with red on the shaded side. The pulp has 

 a yellowish cast, the flavour good, and containing 

 abundance of juice; consequently, one of the best 

 kitchen apples. The tree belongs to the first class 

 of orchard apples ; forming a fine healthy head, and 

 generally a good bearer. It may do as an espalier, 

 but is not at all suitable for dwarf training, by reason 

 of its luxuriant habit of growth. This apple is ex- 

 tensively cultivated near Sandwich in Kent, where 



