566 



JOURNAL OF THE KOYy\L HORTICULTURAL SOCILITY. 



other characters of growth and habit which serve generally to distin 

 guish typical vintage varieties from table ones, although no hard aiK 

 fast line can be drawn. Usually the typical vintage fruit is distinguishec 

 by its small size and by the hardiness and prolific cropping habits of th( 

 trees as compared with the typical table variety. : 



The more or less decrepit condition of the majority of cider orchard^ 

 is a cause of considerable concern to those interested in the cidei 

 industry. The planting of fresh orchards is certainly not being underJ 

 taken sufficiently extensively to compensate for the dying out of the 

 older orchards; and sooner or later, therefore, a serious shortage o( 

 vintage fruit is bound to occur unless this state of affairs is altered] ' 

 A serious check will be given to the industry, since in addition to thd 

 need of maintaining the present supply of fruit a considerably greateu 

 quantity will be required in the near future, if the present advance iii 

 the popularity of cider as a beverage is continued. The majority of 

 young trees which are being planted are used to fill up gaps in old 

 orchards. The practice is not desirable, and does not offer much , 

 promise for the future efficiency of the orchards ; but in most cases it 

 is unavoidable, partly on account of the difficulty of obtaining fresh 

 land to establish entirely new orchards, and partly on account of the 

 common custom of the tenant being obliged to fill up the spaces as 

 they occur through the death of old trees. Another serious draw- 

 back to the planting of new orchards is the length of time which must 

 elapse before the trees begin to bear profitably. The typical cider 

 orchard, which is an adjunct to nearly every farm in the cider districts 

 of the West of England, is composed of standard trees, raised on free 

 stocks, and planted in grass, which is utilized for grazing purposes. 

 Before they begin to bear freely little attention is paid to them, andj 

 consequently a large proportion of the trees are failures. For thatj 

 reason in many quarters the planting of new orchards is not viewed 

 with favour by the landowner, who is generally responsible for thej 

 provision of the trees. In order to overcome the difficulty of the long' 

 period of waiting for the crop, with its attendant disadvantages, a , 

 suggestion has been made to cultivate the trees as bushes, worked on 

 the Paradise stock, according to the common practice for market 

 varieties. A few bush plantations of vintage varieties have recently 

 been planted, and the results will be awaited with considerable j 

 interest. | 



The miscellaneous character of the varieties in the old orchards has 

 already been referred to. In some cases the varieties are of high 

 vintage quality, but in other instances they are of little value. On 

 account of the host of varieties there are comparatively few about 

 which there is reliable information as to their vintage value. There is 

 no doubt that, hidden away unknown in many orchards, there are 

 varieties of the highest value, at least equal to that of any of the better- 

 known and popular ones. An instance may be quoted in the case of | 

 an apple known as ' Butleigh No. XIV. * When Mr. J. Lloyd a few | 

 years ago was conducting experiments in cider-making on Mr. Neville 



