On Pippins.

Southland Times, Issue 9574, 20 July 1887, Page 4

On Pippins.

As the time for planting apple trees has again come round, the following sentences, culled from various enthusiastic writerß on apple culture,'are worthy of consideration : — The apple is the world renowned fruit of temperate climates. From tbe most remote periods it has been the subject of praise among writers and poets, and the old mythologies all endow the fruit with wonderful virtus. The proper contemplation of a large apple tree, raised from a tiny seed, with branchts bending with a heavy crop of luscious fruit, is a source of sublime and interestrig thought to every reflective mind. . . . By no earthly process, in my opinion, can so much nutriment be so cheaply extracted from f jar square rods of ground as by planting an apple tree in tbe centre and giving it good cultivation. . , No fruit is more universally liked, or generally used than the apple, It is exceedingly wholesome, and medicinally is considered cooling and laxative, and useful in all inflammatory diseases, ... An eminent French physician saya the decrease of dyspepsia and bilious affections in Paris is OA-ing to the increased consumption of apples, wbich frnit, he maintains, is an admirable tonic, as well as very nourishing and easily digested. , , Apples are the greatea: luxuries that people can depend npon aa a regular article of food. They are excellent i.i a raw state and superb when cooked in a score of different ways. Adults like them, and children love them. All kinds of domestic animals, from the carriage horse down to the cackling poultry, will devour apples with great aTidity ; and such food, in connection witn other kinds, will always be found profitable. . . The production of a fruitful a; pie orchard and the annual care and protection of the growing crop of fruit constitute not only a delightful, elegant, and scientific occupation, but where the locality is such as to afford market facilities, it is re*lly one of the most profitable in the whole jauge of agriculture. What wonder, therefore, that in some of the southern counties of England the farmer and his men used to (as perhaps they do s. ill) dance ina circle round some favourit*; tree, singing a refrain such as the following :— " Here's to the old apple tree, Whence then may'st bud, and whence thou may'st bloom Andiwhence thou may'st bear app!e3 enow, Hats full! Caps full 1/ Bushels and Backs full "l Huzza !"'