IV. 
GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 
The researches made into Orchard Literature, in addition to their own personal 
investigations, soon made the Committee aware of the fact, that many of the most valuable fruits of 
the last two centuries, which are mentioned by Dr. Beale, 1657 ; Worlidge, 1675 ; Evelyn, 1706; 
Philips, 1706; Hugh Stafford, of Pynes, 1753; Marshall, 1796; Knight, 1808, and other 
writers, were either altogether lost, or had almost disappeared from the orchards. The following 
varieties, which formerly were very highly esteemed, may be mentioned as examples, viz : Woodcock ; 
Friar ; Pawson ; Oaken Pin ; Arier ; Olive ; Coleing ; Wkite sour ; Blackamore ; Mydiate ; D tiffin ; 
Meriot Ysnot; Lings ; Dean s Apple ; Peleasantine ; Fleming ; West bury Crab ; Bromsberrow Crab ; 
The Stocking Apple; Under leaf; Best Bache; Great White Crab; The Redstreaks, Summer , 
Winter , Yellow , Moregreen , and Red ; White , Red ’ and Green Must ; Summer and Winter Fillets ; 
Elliott; Devonshire Royal Wilding ; Gennet Moyle ; Hagloe Crab ; Forest Styre ; Skyrmes Kernel; 
and Foxwhelp. The neglect to cultivate these valuable varieties is, doubtless, very much to be 
attributed to the prevailing belief, that “Sorts die out of necessity,” or, as Mr. Thomas Andrew 
Knight expressed it, “There was no renewal of vitality by the process of grafting, but that the 
scion carried with it the debility of the tree from which it was taken.” (See further on pp. 31-3, 
where the subject is discussed and this opinion shown to be opposed to the laws of Vegetable 
Physiology.) 
It was resolved, to put the question once again to the test of practical experience. 
Mr. Richard Smith Carington, of St. John’s Nursery, Worcester, at the request of the Pomona 
Committee, kindly undertook to conduct the experiment with three good old varieties of fruit which 
were almost gone. The result is shown by the following “ Special Report ” to the members of 
the Club, which was issued in June, 1883 :— 
“ The Pomona Committee have the great satisfaction to inform the Members, that the 
experiments they have caused to be carried on during the last four years, for the restoration of those 
valuable orchard fruits, the Foxwhelp and Skyrme’s Kernel Apples, and the Taynton Squash 
Pear, have completely succeeded. They have now upwards of 800 young trees in vigorous 
health, viz :— 
Skyrme’s 
Taynton 
Foxwhelp. 
Kernel. 
Squash. 
One year maidens, about 3 ft. high 
500 
IOO 
30 
Two year’s old trees, 4 to 5 ft. high 
Standard Foxwhelp trees, 5 to 6 ft. high 
80 
IOO 
30 
18 
These young trees have been distributed through the county, and so far as can be judged at present 
are doing well.” 
The difficulty of procuring true grafts of the old noted varieties is often very great; for 
example, it was not until 1883 that the Committee were able to obtain grafts of those valuable 
fruits, Forest Styre and Hagloe Crab. They were obtained at last through the kindness of that 
excellent practical pomologist, Mr. William Viner Ellis, of Minsterworth, near Gloucester, who 
sent both fruit and grafts, and these excellent varieties are now being propagated by Messrs. 
Cranston & Co., of King’s Acre Nursery, Hereford. 
