The Amateur's Apple Tree.

Otago Witness, Issue 953, 25 April 1889, Page 10

The Amateur's Apple Tree.

The apple is one of the most useful fruits for the amateur, and we purpose offering a few remarks on its cultivation «-*

Soil. — The apple will grow in almost any kind of soil, but a somewhat moist and deep loam is best for it. , A, cultivated clay soil will produce splendid apples if the climate is fairly favourable, but in a cold climate clay is rather unfavourable, and, indeed, so also is peafev It. is, however, advisable not to be too much concerned about the soil. If trees of several kinds do well in the district, if gram crops are usually good, and cabbages aud turnips possible, depend upon it thera is a fair chance of raising plenty of good apples. A waterlogged soil will, of course, not answer,, but I must repeat that the apple loves, moisture, and a dry calcareous 'On sandy soil ought to-be improved for planting, by preparing , stations of a square yard 0$ so in extent for each tree .by incorporating with the staple clay loam, roadside turf, or some such feeding and moisture-holding pabuulum. As to climate,' a>very bleak and exposed situation will not give satisfaction. But the apple is very hardy,' and it flowers late, and often when the season is unfavourable' for' fruit generally the apple crop turns ouirwell. The planler of an apple tree should select the most sheltered position available if he knows hid climate to be risky, but in favourable climates the apple tree may have the , worst position 1 , so as to reserve the shelter for fruits that are less hardy. PLAOTiN».-4ts t&p'Bhds very much on the make of the tree whether it will do justice to its owner. Where there is room for a few standards of productive kinds, they should be planted 20ft or so apart, and never be pruned at all except to cut out the ill-placed shoots that will occur, and stop a branch that threatens throw ■ the tree out m Symmetry. '' i E&cesbive Pruning and Pinching.— Tell the amateur not to prune his trees, and he will soon find them fruitful, for every tree tends naturally to produce its kind, and every time we prune or pinch we postpone the date'of reproduction. But while I see many ttsss for the standards, especially where they' fan overhang tt Wad dr a [ walk or yard, and so, as it were, five on stolen soil and sunshine, I see much, more use for dwarf bushes if grafted on the right kind of j, Btock. Now, the mistake that well-nigh ruined ! the dwarfing system is the confounding dwarf j growth with mere weakness. A grower secures a weak stock and grafts upon it, aud the result is starveling trees that Scarcely grow and tu&er j fruit, but perhaps every year " bristle with fruifc- < buds," and so delude thßir Owners by perpetual promiße. The real paradise" stotik imparts vigour to lliß tree graf" ted on •it but causes a short.- . jointed dose-branching habit of growth, and ' these are the very conditions requisite for early ' fruitfulness. One great advantage of this 6tbck h that a cold ■ damp soil suits it admirably, and it soon "develops the graft upon it ,into a handsome and fruitful pyramid tree. 'When 1 planted for fruit-bearing they should never be pinched Or primed' at all. If thb'bwn.er will have MsltreeVas', handsome iis passible, he may carefully shorten tne longest shoots in winter, so as to promote bomiJatJtness of growth i and pinch out the 1 {taints of all the leaders ; and side braritihies hi the summer! This should be • done early in December. If you pinch; pinch, pinch, as .some' of ' the books advise, you will 'simply pinch away the future fruit; you can't , have your fruit and your pinching too, The 'amateur should be advised never to prune at all, unless he is a irian of superior intelligence and ; observation, in which case, perhaps, he will not ' want advising, and will provide his own apple ; trees in his own way, and do better' with 'them I than most others in thb neighbourhood." i Lifting.— -Once every seven years or so the trees ought to be carefully lifted f and 'replanted on the same sites, or at a littleiarther distance apart. They should be lifted so as not to injure their roots, and the place they are to occupy should be made firm ; then the tree should be placed, its roots well .'covered with fine soil scraped from thetopjeru'st and carefully trodden over. If the soil is damp, they should stand slightly above the general level, but in a dry soil should be planted as deep as the collar, where , root and stem meet, being even with' 'the ; surface. It is not an easy > matter to select a few first-class sorts of apples, for the'simple' reason that we have so {many. After much consideration, I have concluded that for all ordinary purposes^ ' and for the generality of soils and climates, the following are the best six varieties of apples in' the world. As no two pomologists will ever agree in selecting six apples,! am prepared to hear that other •' authorities " disagree with me. But these six are of hardy constitution ; they are regular and' heavy bearers ; they produce handsome saleable fruit of unquestionably good quality. • t

Stirling Castle, X. — A medium-sized round apple, pale yellow; with nice blush ; flesh like that of the hawthornden. In use in February, and soon over.

Keawick Codlin, X. — A medium-sized, conical, angular fruit, greenish yellow, with a nice warm cheek; capital cooking. la use during February and until the end of April. Hawthornden, X.—A good&looking, though not handsome, light green fruit; with an occasional faint blush ; • flesh good, but not rich. In use from end of February to end of July. t Lord Suffield. — A handsome, conicaj apple of large size, colour yellow with an occasional faint red cheek. Immense bearer.

Cox's OraDge Pippin, D.— Good bearer, fine flavour.

Dutch Mignonne, D. — A handsome yellow apple, of fair.size, the flesh deliciously flavoured. Ib use from June to November.

It will be seen that the choice includes only two genuine dessert apples, and the last-named is also one of the finest cooking apples known.

During his recent visit to the other colonies Mr W. sF- Cou?toey endenvoured'to strange that J.

Wolfe, of Tasmania, who has discovered a remedy for ,the^ oodlin moth pest, should visit , this 'colony. Mr Wolfe has now written 'sp > M^ 'Ooatthey'stating'^ttia^iTfpaiM&iilar herb is ■nsedia treating, trees ;f or this and jhd Is dot certain whether this Kerb is to be found m

New Zealand;