About Apples.

Manawatu Herald, 21 April 1892, Page 3

About Apples.

«. " Fruit Grower " writes to the Australasian : — " English experts have reported that two-thirds of the apples grown in Victoria are unsuitable for export, and they recommend that the trees be rooted up and the orchards be planted afresh. Will you kindly ascertain what kinds are referred to, and whether the cause of the failure is not due to bad packing or rough handling of the fruit ? Should not the grower in planting for export select those varieties which he knows to be adapted to looal conditions, although they may be somewhat new to the British public? He is answered as follows:—The statement that two thirds of the apples grown in Victoria are unsuitable for export will probably admit of explanation. The fruits referred to may have been under or over ripe, or they may have been badly classed, or bruised byj rough packing or handling. On consulting the London account sa.es, it is seen that certain apples generally realise the top prices, but in some instances, portions of the same consignment fetch merely nominal rates - strong evidence, we take it, of something being amiss which might have been prevented. The Stunner pippin, when in perfect order and at its proper season hardly ever fails to top the London market, and it is an apple which remains in perfection longer than almost any other variety. The French crab often realises a good price, and so also doe 3 the Stone pippin, King of Tomkin's County, Emperor Alexander, Orauge and Scarlet Pearmain, Scarlet Nonpareil, London or Five-crown pippin, Golden russet, Eeinette de Canada, Adam's Pearmain, Jonathan, Brownlees' russett, and many others. Growers for export to the antipodes have to remember that their market season in Britain will range from the middle of February to June inclusive. By July early apples, such as Irish Peach, Astrakan, and Early Margaret will be coming in, also straw berries and cherries, so that longkept fruits will then be a glut. The advice that the trees be " rooted up " will hardly commend itself to orchardists; has its sapient author never heard of heading back and regrafting old trees, and of thus getting another fair crop in two years and a full one in the third.