Garden Notes

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 8, 26 May 1894, Page 6

Garden Notes

APPLE CULTURE.

(By S. Richter.)

It is impossible to give an opinion on the merits of all the many varieties of apples now in existence. Twenty years ago the American catalogue alone contained the names of 3,300. Some of these have been tried here, but only to be, with a few exceptions, discarded. Those retained are favourites, chief among them being the Jolly Beggar. On reaching England .this far-famed stock came under the distinguished patronage of Lord Grosvenor, and has been named after him ever since. This apple has something in common with the Keswick Codlin, but it is of a hardier habit. It is wind, hail, and frost-proof, but is not a keeper. Persons setting out an orchard should plant out a few rows of these on the exposed side, or, failing them, Allen’s Everlasting will answer the same purpose even better. This famous apple is also wind and frost-proof and an abundant bearer. It is a very unattractive looking apple, but when fully ripe is equal in flavour to the Stone Pippin. It requres to lie for some months to properly mellow. It will keep for six months, but hasone weak point —if the cold weather sets in early it will not ripen, but shrink on the tree, but that is rather a rare occurrence. The next on my list is the Rhymer. Planted out when quite young, it will not bear for fourteen years, and the best plan is to graft on old trees, when it will bear the third year. The Rhymer is a prodigious bearer, but the wood is apt to run very sparrjn Each year the leaders -want cutting back to three eyes. A great controversy has been raging in England regarding pruning. One division of orchardists says — “ Don’t prune.” Another section says views may not be correct in all particulars, but nevertheless here it is for what it is worth :—The Hawthornden, Cheswick Codlin, Lord Grosvenor, and Rushwick Pearmain require very little pruning because they throw out sufficient fruit spurs ; but Rome Beauty, Peagod’s Nonsuch, Poursemouth and Rhymer must be kept back with the knife, or the under part of the tree w r ill be bare. If you want the fruit low down prune your trees. If you want it high up, where the windsj will blow it all down, don’t prune. I have said enough with regard to these two classes of trees to indicate the best course to follow. Even in our own little community there exists a diversity of opinion among presumably practical men. There are sickly trees which cannot be touched with the knife; others again thrive vigorously under its operation. To return to the Rhymer. On some soils it goes at once into fruit spurs, but as a rule on silver tussock land it runs rapidly into wood, and here pruning is needed. The apple will always be a popular one, and has all the qualifications to make it the apple for this part of the colony, be-