4 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  5,  1899. 
the  branches  thinly  trained,  some  of  those  nearly  extending  across 
the  path  through  pruning  to  outside  buds.  I  keep  all  old  worn-out 
spurs  cut  away. 
Varieties  of  Dessert  Apples. 
]\Iy  object  in  writing  the  few  notes  on  dessert  Apples  is  partly  to 
Tedeem  from  oblivion,  it  possible,  some  of  the  most  delicious  Apples 
that  we  have  for  private  use.  Others  I  have  mentioned  are  good  for 
market.  The  small  varieties  require  superior  culture  to  bring  out 
their  best  qualities.  The  larger  varieties  will  produce  Apples  of  fair 
size  for  market  without  much  trouble,  but  where  is  the  quality  ?  I 
know  that  ladies  and  gentlemen  appreciate  an  Apple  of  good  quality. 
Cox's  Orange  Pippin. — Season,  November  to  March.  I  should 
be  glad  to  learn  that  there  were  being  planted  in  every  garden  from 
one  to  a  hundred  trees  of  this  splendid  dessert  Apple,  either  as 
bushes,  standards,  or  cordons,  according  to  locality  and  convenience  at 
command  for  growing  them  well.  It  there  is  a  space  18  inches  wide 
on  a  good  wall,  plant  a  cordon  Cox.  You  will  be  rewarded,  only  give 
the  tree  a  chance  at  the  roots.  It  is  seldom  that  a  good  dish  of  this 
Apple  comes  from  the  dining-room  table  intact,  though  good  Grapes 
are  often  untouched  at  dessert. 
Culture  of  Cox’s  Orange  Pippin. — Plant  in  a  sheltered,  yet  sunny 
situation.  If  there  is  a  depth  of  18  inches  of  good  soil,  that  will 
suffice.  Have  some  turf  or  other  fresh  fertile  soil  mixed  with  about  a 
sixth  part  of  burnt  garden  refuse  to  plant  with.  Do  not  plant  deeply, 
but  somewhat  near  the  surface.  Stake  at  once,  and  mulch  with  half- 
decayed  manure  2  or  3  inches  thick.  As  the  trees  grow  keep  the 
branches  thinly  trained,  and  when  they  are  bearing  good  crops  of  fruit 
give  liquid  manure  at  intervals  throughout  the  year ;  also  half  a 
•pound  of  basic  slag  to  the  square  yard  in  November,  or  1  lb,  of 
superphosphate  to  3  square  yards  in  December  or  January,  pointiug-in 
2  or  3  inches  deep. 
Pibston  Pippin. — As  a  dessert  variety  for  private  use  this  old 
Favourite  is  highly  appreciated  when  well  grown.  I  have  found  that 
liberal  treatment  serves  to  ward  off  mildew  and  canker,  which  is 
incited  by  starvation  at  the  roots,  plus  negligence  or  mismanagement 
generally.  Some  years  ago  I  took  charge  of  an  orchard  that  included 
two  half-standard  Pdbston  Pippins  amongst  its  tenants.  The  trees 
were  the  reverse  of  satisfactory ;  the  branches  crossed  each  other  and 
were  covered  with  lichen  and  moss.  The  heads  were  thinned,  the 
stems  scraped  and  dressed  with  soct  and  lime,  fine  lime  being  also 
thrown  amongst  the  smaller  branches  when  they  avere  wet;  the  roots 
were  assisted  by  liberal  supplies  of  liquid  manure  winter  and  summer. 
All  the  trees  were  similarly  treated,  but  the  Pibstons  and  a  few  others 
i)a,d  a  couple  of  light  dressings  of  guano.  The  soil  was  only  8  or 
9  inches  deep  on  limestone.  The  second  year  great  improvement  was 
•apparent  all  round ;  the  third  year  the  Apples  were  first-class  for  an 
orchard  with  thin  soil.  In  the  winter  of  the  third  season  I  sent  in  a 
dish  of  Pibstons  for  dessert.  The  dinner  party  included  a  gentleman 
possessing  good  knowledge  of  the  Apples ;  but  he  said  the  name  was 
not  right,  as  the  colour  wnas  too  high  for  Pibston.  I  sent  some  of  the 
Apples  to  the  late  Dr.  Hogg  for  his  opinion.  His  answer  w’as,  “The 
true  Pibston,  well  cultivated.”  So  much  for  generous  treatment.  The 
trees  had  been  starved  in  the  thin  soil,  and  its  resources  wasted  cn  a 
“number  of  useless  branches  with  a  crowd  of  apologies  for  leaves. 
That  was  in  Lincolnshire,  a  district  not  famed  for  fine  Apples. 
Golden  Winter  Pearmain. — This  is,  I  think,  the  correct  name  of 
King  of  the  Pippins.  Season,  November  to  January,  or  later.  This 
appears  to  be  a  favourite  Apple  with  many  people.  The  fruit  assumes 
a  lovely  colour  under  good  cultivation,  and  though  neither  large  nor 
rich  sells  well.  The  tree  is  a  free,  healthy,  upright  grower,  and 
requires  careful  pruning  to  outside  buds  to  cause  the  sbeots  to  grow 
away  from  the  centre.  It  is  one  of  the  most  reliable  when  the  brauchrs 
are  thinly  disposed  and  worn-out  spurs  removed. 
IFbrces^er  Pearmain.  —  Season,  September  to  November.  A 
popular  variety  because  of  its  colour,  but  more  so  with  market  than 
private  growers,  for  in  quality  there  are  many  belter  varieties.  I 
grow  it  for  sale  because  buyers  like  it,  and  that  is  enough  for  me. 
The  tree  is  not  a  large  grower,  but  a  regular  bearer.  It  requires 
heavy  feeding  here,  and  bold  healthy  spurs  for  producing  full-sized 
and  well-coloured  fruit, 
Baumann's  Red  Winter  Reinette. — Season,  November  to  February. 
Another  fair-sized,  deeply  coloured,  and  therefore  popular  market 
Apple.  The  tree  is  a  good  grower  and  bearer.  It  will  look  after 
itself,  so  to  say,  better  than  some  others,  but  will  well  repay  for  the 
best  cultural  treatment.  For  home  use  I  would  not  grow  it  either 
for  dessert  or  cooking,  but  when  we  want  other  people’s  money  we 
must  consider  other  peo2rle’s  fancies,  or  we  shall  get  very  little  in  the 
market. 
Lady  S'McfeZey.— Season,  September  and  October.  One  of  the  best 
early  Apples,  with  size,  colour,  and  flavour  to  recommend  it,  while 
the  tree  is  a  good  grower  and  bearer.  An  excellent  Apple  for  market 
and  private  use.  The  fruit  has  a  greenish-yellow  skin  stri^ied  with 
red,  and  the  flesh  is  tender  and  enjoyable  under  good  culture.  When 
the  trees  are  formed,  thinning  rather  than  shortening  the  branches, 
should  be  the  rule  in  pruning. 
AlUngton  Pippin. — Season,  November  to  January.  A  com¬ 
paratively  new  Apple  of  fair  size,  fine  appearance,  and  excellent 
quality.  I  think  it  originated  in  Lincolnshire  from  Cox’s  Orange 
Pippin.  The  tree  is  a  good  grower  and  bearer,  and  likely  to  be 
extensively  planted  for  affording  supplies  of  fruit  both  for  the  home 
dessert  and  market  purposes. 
Gmyensfem.— Season,  November  to  January.  Why  is  not  this 
beau'iful  Apple  more  frequently  seen  ?  Are  all  the  trees  sold  true  to 
name  ?  I  think  I  have  seen  some  that  are  not.  The  fruits  are  above 
medium  size,  good  alike  for  cooking  or  dessert,  and  the  waxen-yellow’ 
skin,  deepening  to  orange  and  sometimes  faint  crimson,  renders  them 
attractive.  The  flavour  is  good  at  Christmas,  Succeeds  well  as  a 
standard  in  good  soil  and  a  warm  situation.  When  well  grown 
there  is  no  difficulty  in  selling  the  fruit.  Give  phosphatic  rather 
than  nitrogenous  food,  and  the  fruit  -will  be  improved  in  colour  and 
flavour.  Liquid  manure  is  always  acceptable  by  free  bearing  trees. 
I\erry  Pippin. — A  little  gem  for  private  use,  and  comes  in  well  for 
the  early  shooting  season.  From  September  to  November.  The  tree 
is  a  rather  small  but  healthy  grower.  The  fruit  is  much  like  Golden 
Winter  Pearmain  in  colour,  but  of  decidedly  better  flavour.  These 
small  growers  require  their  fruit  well  thinning  and  the  roots  liberally 
treating  for  affording  the  best  of  fruit. 
Margil. — Season,  November  to  February.  This  first-class  dessert 
Apj-jle  is  suggestive  of  a  smallish  Pibston  with  soft  flesh.  The  tree  is 
a  small  grower,  and  on  poor  soil  subject  to  canker.  Do  not  allow  the 
branches  to  become  crowded  ;  thin  out  old  spurs,  and  give  the  best  of 
culture,  then  you  'null  have  an  Apple  worth  eating — a  Pibston  flavour, 
and  something  more. 
Trumpington  (syn.  Eve  Apple). — Season,  September  to  January. 
I  fi::d  this  to  be  a  delicious  little  ApjJe  at  midwinter  for  private  use, 
but  should  not  grow  it  for  market.  The  skin  is  striped  with  pale 
red  on  the  shaded  side,  but  covered  with  bright  red  in  the  sun,  so 
much  so  that  I  have  occasionally  seen  the  tender  flesh  coloured 
nearly  all  through.  The  tree  makes  a  good  half-standard,  and  jaer- 
hnps  succeeds  better  in  the  north  than  the  south,  as  I  have  the  fruit 
described  as  “.second-rate.” 
Irish  Peach. — Season,  August.  Everyone  connected  with  the 
garden  probably  knows  that  the  fruit  of  this  early  Apple  is  best  eaten 
directly  it  is  gathered.  The  tree  requires  good  cultivation.  The  roots 
must  not  bo  allowed  to  get  down  into  a  cold  claju  Care  is  required  in 
jiruning,  because  many  fruit  buds  are  formed  on  the  current  year’s 
growth.  Thin  out  the  old  sjaurs  and  keep  the  wood  thinly  trained, 
also  thin  the  fruit  when  crowded,  and  then  you  may  have  it  in  the 
best  condition. 
Dutch  Mignonne. — Season,  December  to  April.  The  fruit  of  this 
not  extensively  grown  Apple  is  of  good  dessert  size  and  handsomely 
shaped ;  the  tree  is  a  free  grower  and  bearer,  and  makes  a  pro¬ 
ductive  bush  or  half-standard  when  branch  croavding  is  not  permitted. 
When  the  fruit  is  well  grown  and  ripened  the  flesh  is  yellow,  and  I 
have  had  it  of  first-class  quality  in  April.  An  excellent  Apple  for 
private  use. 
Lord  Season,  January  to  June.  One  tree  at  the  least 
ought  to  be  found  in  every  garden  of  any  size.  The  fruit  is  of  good 
appe.ar.ance,  medium  size,  with  a  flush  of  red  next  the  sun,  and  the 
flesh  is  of  Pine  Apple  flavour.  Keep  the  roots  out  of  the  subsoil  and 
the  branches  thinly  trained,  then  with  a  fair  amount  of  jihosphatcs 
added  to  the  soil,  with  manure  when  the  crops  are  swelling,  the  best 
of  fruit  may  be  obtained.  Sturmer  Pippin  is  not  worth  growing,  as 
compared  with  Lord  Burghley,  in  Yorkshire  as  a  late  dessert  Apple.  ■ 
Old  AkuiparerY.-— Season,  February  to  May.  Just  the  Apple  for 
private  use  in  the  spring.  The  tree  is  a  small  grower,  the  fruit  requires 
thinning  to  obtain  a  fair  size. 
King  of  Tompkins  County. — Season,  December  to  March.  A  large, 
well-flavoured,  soft-fleshed  Apple.  Tree  a  very  strong  grower.  I  have 
grown  three  cordons  on  a  south  wall,  and  they  have  given  much 
satisfaction. 
Blenheim  Pipp>in. — Though  I  consider  this  Apjile  of  excellent 
dessert  quality,  I  cannot  recommend  it  for  quick  returns  as  a  bush. 
For  a  permanent  ])lace,  avith  good  soil,  pilant  Blenheim  as  standards, 
wait  till  it  bears,  and  it  will  give  approved  fruit  for  a  generation. 
All  the  varieties  mentioned  avill  apporeciate  a  mulching  of  manure 
over  their  roots  in  summer. — Geo.  Picker. 
Deutzia  gracilis. — Plants  of  these  intended  for  forcing  are  best 
placed  in  frames  previous  to  taking  them  into  heat.  If  introduced 
direct  from  the  open  into  strong  heat  the  buds  are  liable  to  be  blind. 
From  frames  the  plants  may  be  placed  in  a  greenhouse  of  45°  to  50°  tem¬ 
perature,  This  will  cause  the  buds  to  swell  gradually,  and  when  further 
advanced,  or  about  to  burst,  give  a  moist  atmosphere  in  a  temperature  of 
60°  to  65°. —D. 
