1909.] Habits of Growth in Apple Trees. 



203 



berg, although only its bright colouring allows of its sale as 

 a dessert apple. The tree is a persistently upright grower, 

 and the ends of the branches have the bad habit of turning 

 inwards. It needs severe pruning to outside buds in its early 

 years to induce outward growth. 



A third member of the dual type, but much superior to 

 Duchess of Oldenberg for eating raw, is Peasgood's None- 

 such, a strong and sprawling grower, requiring to be pruned 

 to upright buds from the first if grown in bush shape; but 

 it is better grown on a short stem or as an ordinary half- 

 standard. Great though the size of the fruit is, the crop is 

 not usually considered large enough to recommend the 

 variety to market growers. Moreover, it is subject to 

 canker. 



Turning to dessert apples proper, Cox's Orange may be 

 first named as the best of all, but the most difficult to grow. 

 Indeed, from its great liability to canker, in addition to its 

 somewhat feeble growth, this splendid variety flourishes in 

 only a few districts. Where it does well it grows in excellent 

 form, neither too compact nor too spreading. Allington 

 Pippin, an allied but greatly inferior apple as to flavour, is 

 a more vigorous grower, and yet a troublesome one in conse- 

 quence of its tendency to form a mass of inside shoots. 

 These are best pared off closely, as the tree is such a profuse 

 bearer that there is no need to spur the inside laterals. Glad- 

 stone is a weak grower of sprawling habit. Irish Peach 

 grows lanky branches bearing chiefly at the ends and on long 

 natural spurs. Like the few other varieties which fruit chiefly 

 at the terminals of shoots, it is a troublesome apple to prune. 

 The best plan is to cut the shoots back well until the tree is 

 well furnished with branches, and then to leave it alone 

 except for cutting out any excessive inside growth or crossing 

 branches. Much sturdier and of spreading habit is Beauty 

 of Bath, which is no trouble to train into a handsome tree. 

 Lady Sudeley is fairly vigorous, and shapes itself well in 

 moderately spreading form. King of the Pippins as a very 

 compact grower, and Ribstone Pippin as a spreading one, 

 may be condemned alike for market plantations on account 

 of their inveterate tendency to canker. Worcester Pearmain 

 forms itself in a cup shape naturally, and needs pruning 



