528 



THE APPLE. 



natural, horticultural, and domestic history of every species, in greater detail 

 than they have ever elsewhere been given, will have recourse to the 

 Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum. 



Sect. I. — Hardy or Orchard Fruits. 



1120. The hardy fruits include all those which arrive at maturit}'' in 

 the open garden, without the aid of glass or artificial heat. These are the 

 apple, pear, quince^ medlar, the true service, cherry, plum, gooseberry, 

 currant, raspberry, strawberry, cranberr}^, bilberry, cornel, elder, barberr}^, 

 winter cherry, buffalo berry, chestnut, filbert, w^alnut, hickory, and mulberry. 



SuBSECT. I. — The Apple. 

 1]27- The Apple^ Pyrus Malus L. JNIalus communis Z)ec., (Pom- 

 mier, J^r., Apfelbaum Ger., Apfel, Dutch^ Pero INIelo, and Melo Porno, 

 ItaL, and Manzana, Sjmn. Eng. Bot., t. 179 y Arb. Brit.^ Vol VI.; and 

 Encyc. of Trees and Shrubs, p. 45,) is a deciduous tree, under the mid- 

 dle size, with spreading branches, which form in general an irregular 

 head. In its wild or crab state, it is indigenous in most parts of Europe, 

 and as a fruit-tree, it is cultivated in all civilised countries, more especially 

 in those of temperate climates. It flowers in May, and ripens its fruit at 

 various periods from July to November, and some sorts of apple maybe 

 kept throughout the year, or longer. The tree is naturally of considerable 

 hardiness and durability, but the cultivated varieties are comparatively 

 delicate and sV.ort-lived. Trees of the more hardy varieties, however, have 

 been known to endure for two or three centuries ; but it is presumed that 

 individual trees of such varieties as the Hawthornden, and the Ribston 

 pippin, would scarcely live a century. The apple, like every other plant, 

 accommodates itself more or less to the climate and soil in which it is placed, 

 but still it attains a higher degree of perfection in one particular climate and 

 soil, than in any other. The climate of England, and the north of France, 

 and the loamy soils on lime-stone rock that are found in these countries, 

 appear to bring the apple to the highest degree of perfection. Italy and 

 Spain are much too warm, and the north of Germany and Sweden, too cold 

 and sunless. Several kinds of apples were introduced into Britain by the 

 Romans, who possessed, according to Pliny, twenty-two varieties ; but, in 

 all probability, these were lost in the interval between the Roman civil 

 power in Britain, and the power of the Church, though many wildings might 

 doubtless spring up, when the trees established by the Romans began to be 

 neglected. Some of the varieties in existence, it may be reasonably supposed, 

 were introduced by the Roman clergy, but the greater number of sorts 

 w^hich have not been raised in Britain have doubtless been introduced from 

 Normandy, either when that country was subjected to England, or pre- 

 viously at the Norman conquest. The apple is not indigenous in North 

 America, but nevertheless it flourishes in all the temperate parts of the 

 United States, and the flavour of some varieties grown in America, for 

 example the Newtown pippin, is thought by many to be superior to that 

 of any kinds grown in the north of France, or England. The number of 

 varieties now in cultivation has been greatly increased within the present 

 century, partly from importations, but chiefly from seedlings raised in this 

 country. In consequence, we have varieties suitable for difi^erent soils and 



