APPLE. 71 



nues to thrive for a great number of years. Many- 

 trees, now in good health and full bearing, are 

 known to have been planted fourscore years ago. 



That the nonpareil is of French origin, is highly 

 probable ; it being mentioned in a catalogue written 

 by Merlet, one hundred and fifty years since. Mer- 

 let was followed by Duhamel, who describes the 

 fruit as being of a green and grey colour, Sec, and 

 much esteemed in England ; leaving no doubt but 

 that the apple he describes is identical with our non- 

 pareil of the present day. 



Of late years, it has been observed, that the non- 

 pareil has not kept so well as formerly ; this, there is 

 little doubt, is caused by the tree being too frequently 

 worked upon the paradise and free stocks, instead of 

 the true crab. For there is no fact more fully ascer- 

 tained by nurserymen than this, that the crab stock 

 is more congenial to every variety of apple than any 

 other ; having a less tendency to alter the natural 

 properties of the graft, and assisting the latter to dis- 

 play itself in its proper form of head, as well as 

 maintaining the true flavour and keeping qualities of 

 the mature fruit. The paradise stock may be used to 

 induce a more dwarfish habit, and earlier fruitfulness, 

 and the free stock to produce a contrary result ; but 

 the crab stock only can be trusted to for the develop- 

 ment of genuine character. 



There are large importations of an apple from 

 France, somewhat similar in size and flavour to the 

 X nonpareil. They are called by the Norman orchard- 

 ists the Haute-bonne ; and though inferior in keep- 



