Apples for the English Market

Manawatu Herald, 31 May 1892, Page 3

Apples for the English Market

. . 6 " Orchardist " in the Weekly Press has a veryinterestiag paper on the above subject, from which we clip the following: — Me raises the question whether the English market will alwayg continue to ba as profitable a resource as hitherto, The apples in England has always been considered as the poor man's fruit, and sold at very low prices, and it has only found favour at the rich man's table because of its beiiig a rarity brought from the Antipodes. When the quantities sent Home from the Australian colonies have become so great that the novelty has Come to ail end, and the general toublic can be supplied, it is a ques-tion-whether the apple will then fetch a price to cover, tlio very heavy expenses and tile risk of loss iii placing it on the English market. For this last reason, it will be prudent to give a preference to such varieties as possess good qualities suited to other purposes, such as being long keepers, so as to come in for our own winter markets, and being good for drying, canning, preserving, &c, thus giving the grower more than otte string to his bow. Perhaps a general description of tbe requirements of an apple for the Home liiarket could hardly be better given than they have been by the editor of this journal (in a private letter), " a vigorous sort that will resist the aphis and other enemies, a good bearer, and a fruit that comes to hand eavly enough for shipping Home," Every ono recommends the Eibston pippin, and Cox-orauge pippin as two of the best varieties, but the woolly aphis ( anu/era) absolutely kills the last, and the first is a weakly tree, subject severely to the aphis, and geneial disease, and a very poor bearer, on which the apples generally stand a foot apart, and, as an experienced grower writes, "It takes a large Ribston pipqin tree to produce half a case of apples." The writer (who is an old orchardist), has often seen large trees of this variety, with 40lbs or 50lbs of fruit, in orchards where trees of half the size of other varieties, have had SOOlbs of a crop. Tha Coxorange pippin is not so bad as the Ribston, but it has all its disadvantages in a larger degree, and another great favourite in the English market market, the king of pippins, blights very badly, in many soils. Some of the most approved of varieties in England are, Ribston pippin (always first), Cox's Orange pippin (always second), Adam's Pearmain, king of pippins, scarlet non pareil, Claygate Pearmain, Newton pippin and Bos ton russet and Stunner's pippin and Stone pippin, are also well spoken of. It rests with local kuowledge to say whether a man can produce these varieties, in his own orchard, and produce them in perfection and abundance. Both colour aud flavour go a great way, colour perhaps as much as anything. Bright red is tbe beat liked, bright yellow, yellow with a red cheek, and russet is a favourite colour, because so many russet apples are well flavoured. First, or second size is preferred much over small apples, and above all, condition is absolutely necessary, that however will be mentioned later, the varieties io plant being the first subjeot to consider. Besides those mentioned there are some excellent varieties for the Home market, such as, Rome beauty. Golden non-pareil Lippiats seedling, Ohimemuri seedling, (a first rate fruit) Lamb Abbey Pearmain, Mother apple, Maud Puckruf pippin (a delicate russet), Worcester Pearmain (bright red.) It is not very easy to see why some of the apples recommended by English experts should be approved of, as some of them are late apples here, aome are certainly not of first quality, some are cooking apples, and others are bad keepers. A few the writer can certainly recommend, in addition to those already mentioned, viz ; Reinette dv Canada, Reinette de Ananas, Shepherd's Perfection, Scarlet Pearmain Smith's (Cider) bright red, hardy and great bearer), Pine Crown (or London Pippin), Mama apple and Gravenstein. Some experts in addition advise, Stunner's Pippin (a really good apple, but late), Striped Pippin, Symond's Winter (very good, but late), Cornish Aromatic, Defiance, Lewis' Incomparable, Melon, (soft), .Mother, Norfolk Bearer, Emperor Alexander, Rytner, Wagner, Wine h op, Newton Pippin King of Tomkins Country, Blenheim Orange' Rad Baldwin, Golden Reinette, Bedfordshire Foundling, Triomple de Lr.xenborg, Gloria Muncli, Red Streak, Striped Beefing, and some even name such apples as Bismark, Lord Suffield, Ciline (none of ihem good keepers,), Sterling Castle and Warner's King (a large coarse » pple). The thing to bear in mind is that the fruit should be in England iv /pri'.May, June, July, and especially in May and June (the first being the best). It should be highcoloured, very lumdiome fruit, first or second size (nofc small) aud of a

fine dessert flavour (although good • cooking varieties seem also to sell). Whichever variety furnishes these lcquisites, and bears well and regu* laily on the soil and in the climate of the particular neighbourhood and orchard is the best to choose. The writer highly recommends io give a great preference to the Northern Spy, which, besides fulfilling all the required conditions, is perfectly • Wight (tanigerae) proof, and can at i any time be grafted if not approved ': of. It is n.t a fiisb rate keeper, but will keep long enough for the purpose.