Some Notes on Apples and Apple Growing. (Home paper)

Otago Witness, Issue 2200, 30 April 1896, Page 8

Some Notes on Apples and Apple Growing. (Home paper)

Before undertaking a fruit farm a good capital is essential, as several years mTtit necessarily elapae before the trets acquire full bearing condition. The selection of varieties upon suitable stocks is imperative. The influence of stock upon scion is great, more 80 than the majority of farmers imagine. , STOCKS FOR APPLES. It will, I fselsure, be profitable to my readers iE I briefly refer to the stccks. Thcs9 in general use are the crab, the free stock, and the Paradise. Crab stocks are got by sowing seed of the wild crab, familiar to all lovers of the country. This is the best stock for the apple ; it produces strong, free-bearing and thoroughly healthy tree', and should be used for standards. The free stock is derived from tha cultivated apple ; and, lastly, we huve the ParadiHo, of which there in more than oue varieby. This is the " dwerfing stock," and gives suitable trees for small gardens, by reason of their stature. The broad-leaved Paradise 13 the best, and has greater " dwarfing " effect than any other kind. The trees on the Paradise stock do best in heavy ground, not in poor light soils, which must ba liberally manured to ensure success. Low-lying damp districts are not tho b:st for apple-grow-ing, but there are few places iv which the trees will not prove sat ; sfacbory. Before planting a fruit farm, look round the neighbourhood and carefully note what kinds succeed. In some districts one eclipses all others in free baaring, whilst the same kind elsewhere is a failure. It is not a long Hat of variabiei that one needs, but a few good-looking, well- flavoured prolific apples that are likely to sell wdl. The

SELECTION OF APPLES I give can ba thoroughly trusted, but local kinds of merit are not included. The Sussex Forge is confined to certain parts of that country, the branches usually breaking almost beneath their precious burden, but that is a local apple, hence the reason I fctrongty advise careful inspection of the neighbour'acoJ before embarking upon the somewhat risky business of fruit-gro »iag. A lot of utter nonsense is talked about the huge returns from fruit trees, and people are misled by the flow of adjectives from the pon of ready writers^ There is no gold mine in the business, j but, with careful culture and complete know> j ledge of the fruit to be grown, a good living | may be accomplished. Early apples are much wanted, but a selection may be mads from Irish peach (the best of all), the popular Devonshire Quarrenden, and Juneating, which is, however, quickly over. Three fine codlins are in the early list— Keswick, Carlisle, and the famous Lord Shefll-ld. Of mid-season apples, one will not go far wrong in placing strong reliance \upon the old Hawthornden, Stirling ON POTTING LILIES. _ Those who grow the auratum and l&ncifoliutn lilies will nnd it necessary to repot them now. Lilies generally are very imp.\tient of disturbance at the root when growth ia aotive, and for- this reason it should not bs delayed. In doing so tbe state of the roots mustjja the guide as to whether pots a size or two larger are necessary; if the soil ia well occupied with healthy fibres then transfer them without disturbing anything, save the draiaage and any loose sarfacd soil. If this is in a fairly moht •tate no water will be needed for 'some time after potting, and a cold pit or greenhouse, where they are out of the reaoh of frost and heat from hot water pipes, will ba the moat suitable position for a time. PLANTING BULBS IN GRASS. Planting bulbs in grass may be done in a variety of ways. It vomj be done by,th« aid of an iron bar, like what shepherds employ in pitching hurdles for sheepfolds. Make a hole 6ia deep, at the bottom of which place a handful of deoayed leaves, vegetable refuse, or old potting soil. Place on this compost the bulb, covering it with 4iu of Ib..* same mixture. Although digging holes w>tii a spade is, pechaps, the best method of all in planting, yet by j the aid of the bar alluded to the planting is much I easier, and more quickly and satisfactorily done. The grass quickly grows over the hole, j and tbe trouble of relaying the turf is thus dis- ' penscd with ; besides, tha flower stems push up through the soil so 'much more easily than through the turf.