English Orchards. 



9 



honoured sorts of apples have degenerated by a gradual 

 process of exhaustion of their original attributes and normal 

 vitality consequent upon reproduction by grafting, but this is 

 not supported by physiological laws : and there is no doubt 

 that the so-called degeneracy has been caused by unskilful 

 grafting, or the grafting of trees whose course was already 

 nearly finished, and, chiefly, by the great neglect of the trees, 

 their improper treatment, and the numerous disorders 

 occasioned by fungi, insects, lichens, and mosses which have 

 been allowed to remain without any attempts being made to 

 combat their attacks. The same condition exists in the 

 famous French apple orchards in Brittany, according to the 

 report of M. Crie, deputed by the Minister of Agriculture, 

 in 1896, to ascertain the causes of the decay of the cider- 

 apple trees. M. Crie says, ''It is'beyond doubt that man}/- ot 

 the apple trees are decaying and dying in the districts I have 

 gone over. There are many different ideas of the vaguest 

 and most conjectural character as to the cause. When one 

 talks to the cultivators as to the decay of their trees, they have 

 already prejudged the case and have made up their minds 

 without further attempts to solve the problem. . . . . 

 Sometimes the devastations causedby various fungi and insects 

 are enormous, and the new varieties of trees are not more 

 exempt than those of ancient date. It is said usually of 

 these diseased trees that their decay is a natural affection aris- 

 ing from a degenerate state" — an opinion which he considers 

 to be devoid of foundation. 



Even if the objection to plant old varieties, and to graft 

 from old varieties were well founded, many new varieties 

 have been, and are being continuously, introduced, suitable 

 for all soils and climatic conditions, of fine quality and 

 appearance. In many of the fruit-growing districts there are 

 skilful nurserymen, possessed of much scientific and practical 

 knowledge, engaged in evolving new varieties of apples 

 specially suited to the circumstances and requirements of 

 different localities. The yearly catalogues of these nursery- 

 men show the valuable work that is being carried on in the 

 development of improved sorts, and the exhibitions of apples 

 held in London, under the auspices of the Royal Horticultural 



