OctobeOl, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
355 
:- 
COMING EVENTS 
21 
TH 
Apple and Pear Show at Exeter (two days). 
22 
F 
23 
S 
24 
SUN 
18th Sunday after Trinity. 
25 
M 
26 
TU 
Royal Horticultural Society, Committees and Show (two days). 
27 
W 
National Chrysanthemum Society, Floral Committee. 
FINE APPLES AND PEARS. 
PPLES and Pears always come prominently under 
discussion at this period of the year; and it is 
right that they should, for is not the former the 
most serviceable of all fruits of temperate climes, 
and the latter the most valuable of hardy deli¬ 
cacies for dessert purposes ? There cannot pos¬ 
sibly be a more opportune time for recording 
observations on the character of some of the 
varieties than the present, first because a great 
majority are in condition to be judged actually “ by their 
fruits,” which is better than trusting to memory, however 
retentive, or compiling from books however good and gene¬ 
rally reliable; and secondly because the time for ordering 
trees has arrived and the period for planting is closely 
approaching. 
A little skirmishing has already been indulged in in the 
Journal in the form of the tossing of a few kinds to and fro 
between correspondents, as if they were somewhat more 
intent at hitting each other than of conveying information to 
interested readers, more particularly those who lack experi¬ 
ence in growing or have not the best opportunities for ex¬ 
amining most of the leading varieties. There is one conso¬ 
lation, however—nothing bad has been recommended, but, 
on the contrary, scarcely a variety has been brought to the 
front during the past two months but what is good for some 
purpose or other, and notably are those enumerated on 
page 349 worthy of consideration by intending planters. As 
nowhere are such facilities afforded for forming a compara¬ 
tive estimate of the merits of fruit as at a great show, and 
as the greatest and best display of Apples and Pears of the 
season was that held at South Kensington last week; and 
as, moreover, probably not one reader of the Journal out of 
a thousand could inspect that Show ; and as reports, however 
full and good, can only be generally descriptive, I propose 
referring to some of the prominent dishes individually, taking 
no account of the exhibitors, but only of the fruit. This will 
be done in a manner in which growers of the varieties men¬ 
tioned can compare their own produce and form an opinion 
as to how much it is above or how far it is below the standard 
of excellence represented, and at the same time enable those 
persons who do not know the varieties that will be named 
to form a better idea of their size than can be gathered from 
catalogues. 
Culinary Apples being the most generally useful, primary 
attention will be devoted to them. The August Apples were 
necessarily not visible, and it must suffice to say that perhaps 
the best of these is the Early Julyan ; tree a small grower, 
and great bearer of medium sized fruit; profitable for market. 
Nor were the early Codlins represented except by a few dishes 
of Lord Suffield. The finest Apple of this type was the 
Nelson Codlin, the fruits being 4 inches deep and 3^ wide. 
This is an Apple of great usefulness, the tree being a good 
grower and great bearer. Duchess of Oldenburgh was shown 
3|r inches wide and 2J inches high, handsomely striped, a 
variety combining beauty with utility ; the tree a sturdy 
No. 330.—Vol. XIII., Third Series. 
grower, bearing well. Cellini was 3 j inches wide and 3 inches 
high, symmetrical and richly coloured ; a free, early bearing, 
October Apple, and one of the most constant. Yorkshire 
Beauty was 3£ inches wide near the base and 8£ inches high, 
tapering somewhat acutely, skin clear creamy yellow, show¬ 
ing the clear red cheek to advantage ; in outline and general 
character somewhat resembling Emperor Alexander. This 
is commended especially to one of your correspondents with 
a mental pseudonym, who does not appear to be acquainted 
with this Apple. Possibly if he were to grow it he would 
in a few years’ time advise others to do likewise, but the 
“ others ” had perhaps better not wait. 
Emperor Alexander was splendid in many dishes ; fruits 
4| inches wide and 3^ inches high, richly coloured, and one 
of the most handsome. The tree makes a fine standard, not 
a compact bush. Winter Hawthornden, 4^ inches in dia¬ 
meter and 8^ inches high ; good in every dish, and there were 
many. This is one of the best Apples, resembling Warner’s 
King, the tree growing well and bearing early and freely. 
Stirling Castle, handsome, smooth, and symmetrical, fruits 
4 inches wide and 3| inches high ; one of the best of all for 
bushes and small gardens. Ecklinville, fruits 4£ inches wide 
and 3 inches high, a first-rate Apple; tree prolific both as a 
bush on the Paradise and standard on the Crab. Gloria Mundi, 
perhaps the heaviest dishes in the Show were of this variety, 
fruits \\ inches wide and 3^ inches high ; the tree is a good 
upright grower, but the branches are not “ roped ” with fruit. 
Warner’s King would run the preceding closely as regards 
weight; fruits 4J inches wide and 3| inches high, uniformly 
fine throughout; the tree is a healthy grower and fruitful. 
Loddington, fruits large, taller and more angular than usual, 
3| inches high and the same in width; the tree is of compact, 
sometimes of scrubby habit, and bears heavily : not a good 
grower, and, as your mental man says, is liable to canker in 
some soils and districts. Peasgood’s Nonesuch, the most 
handsome Apple of all, combining a uniformly smooth out¬ 
line and bright and pleasing colour: fruits 4^ inches wide 
and the same or nearly so in height: the tree grows and 
bears well, and this noble variety should not be overlooked 
in orders to nurserymen. Mere de Menage, the finest of the 
very dark Apples, deep, dull red, fruits 4 J inches wide and 3 
high; a good grower and bearer. Brabant Bellefleur, of the 
same type as the preceding, but though taller not quite so 
large and deep in colour: a moderate grower and excellent 
bearer. Lord Derby, not so large as usual, 3£ inches high 
and 3 inches wide : a very fine Apple, the tree growing well 
and bearing freely. Annie Elizabeth, 3£ inches high and 
3 inches wide, prevailing colour brownish red : an excellent 
Apple, and tree a sturdy healthy grower and free bearer. 
Lane’s Prince Albert, 3^ inches high and 3 inches wide: an 
attractive and excellent Apple, and one of the best and most 
reliable of bearers, not making a large spreading tree. Al- 
friston, 3jr inches high and 3 J inches wide : a fine firm Apple,, 
making a fine standard, but not good for dwarf culture. 
Small’s Admirable, 3 inches high and about the same in 
width : a first-rate Apple, and one of the most abundant 
bearers in a dwarf state. Golden Noble, 3^ inches wide and 
3£ inches high, symmetrical golden fruits : "tree a free grower 
and makes a fine standard, not a good dwarf. Lady Hen- 
niker, fruit angular, 3^ inches wide and 3J inches high, of 
excellent quality, and tree a good grower and free bearer. 
Striped Beefing, 4 inches wide and 3^ inches deep : hand¬ 
some, and one of the hardiest and best of late culinary 
varieties. Dumelow’s Seedling, 3^ inches wide and 3 inches 
deep : a well-known brisk late culinary Apple, the tree bear¬ 
ing abuudantly. Blenheim Pippin, not so large as usual, 
3^ inches wide and 2^ inches high, well known for its excel¬ 
lence ; but if a person wants good crops in a few years let 
him plant trees on the Paradise stock, if fine standards for 
his grandchildren plant trees on the Crab. 
Twenty-six varieties are named, not in the order of merit 
or of ripening, but just as they were observed, as among the 
No. 1! 8G —Yoi. T.XXY., Odd Series 
