THE ERUIT GARDEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7722, 4 June 1903, Page 4

THE ERUIT GARDEN.

VARIETIES TO PLANT. Tne planting season has again come round, and with it the usual numerous inquiries for the best sorts- of fruit trees to plant. \he advice of Mr J. Cl Blackmore, Government Pomologist, has again been obtained, and is given as follows. It must be understood the advice is for the householder ot farmer, who wishes a supply of fruit for his own use^ rather than for export or market: — ■ \ The subjoined list contains a limited number of standard sorts, as there are many other really good sorts. Exception -will doubtless be taken to some on. thia last. Still, those enumerated can be relied .on, and the inclusion of more would only serve to bewilder the inexperienced when making a, selection. While experience is j the best teacher, and though great assistance can be obtained by observing-- other people's experience, still the ordinary settler, when he turns up a catalogue, must be bewildered with the, almost numberless rarieties of the several kinds of fruit, each described as better than its neighbour. Itis scarcely wise to rely too much on the catalogue descriptions of t!he various sorts, nor ott the repute of any special varietygrown at a considerable distance; better observe carefully what does well with your neighbour in the district in which you intend to establish your orchard. If such varieties are standard sorts, and of good marketable value, ■it is safe to plant on a. fairly large scale. If, as is often the case, the , planter is unable to obtain a sufficient number of trees of the particular variety selected, this difficulty to a great extent may be rectified by procuring and setting out in their permanent position strong fruit tree stocks of their several kinds, and during the proper season carefully grafting or budding with the desired sorts. Unless worked on the plum, the peach, of the. various kinds of fruits, is the least adapted to this method. Seven goodi apples for 'dessert purposes, early to late, in order of ripening, are: — Williams's Favourite, ' Rhodes'. Orange, Cox's Orange Pippin, Prince of the Pippins, Scarlet Nonpariel z Jonathan and j-jturmer. ' Alternative list of seven good dessert . apples— Thorle • Pippin, Bed Astraohan, Early Summer Pearmain, Ribstone (or-sub-stitute Ainer-ican Golden Russet), Esopus Spitzenburgh (or substitute Lord Burleigh), Golden Reinette and Romanite (or substitute Dougherty). Six good kitchen, apples — White Trans-

parent, Dan's Maria, Kentish Fillbasket, Rysner, Lord Wolseley and French Crab. Six good apples for cold; wet districtsWorcester Pearmain, Keswick Codlin (or substitute Hawthorndean), Alfriston, Cornish Aromatic,, Reinette dv Canada and Rymer. :_ Six .good dessert plums — Angelina Burdett, Dennison Superb, Purple Gage, Kirk's, Pou'rpaits and Coe's Golden Drop. Six good kitchen plums—Rivers' Early Prolific, Czar, ' Denbigh" (Cbe's Emperor), Denyei's Victoria, White Magnum Bonum and Grand D.uke. Eight superior cherries — Early Purple Guigne . (or .substitute Early RiveTs), Bohemian' Black Biganreau, BigeTreati Noir de Smith, Governor Wood-, Black Tartarian, Bedford Prolific Bigarreau Napoleon and St Margaret. Ten superior peaches — Briggs's Red Mar, Early Newington, Rivers' J2arly York, GTosse Mignonne, Stirling Castle (Royal George type), Muir, Sea Eagle, Prinoess of Wales, Lord Palmerston and. Six good pears — Beacon, Williams's Bon Chretien, Doyenne dv Cornice (or substitute Beurre Diel), Winter Cole, Easter Beurae and Olivier de Serres. To make twelve add : Monchallard, Dr Jules Guyot, Beurre Capiaumont, Beurre Bo^c, Winter Nelis and Josephine de Malines. Six apricots—^Newcastle, Rivers' Large Early, Ouilin's Eariy, Royal t Henskirk and Dumionald. In the matter of planting apples for export purposes, it is not possible to give a list of desirable varieties which will be safe- for all planters, as climate, character of soil and location are very different in the various portions of the colony. The main points to consider, as regards: each sort chosen, are: its valuable qualities as an article of commerce, the trees must be hardy in character, they should be prolific, but not inclined to overbear, the fruit medium to -large size and. attractive in colour, such as will attract the' eye of the purchaser, good in quality, firm enough to ship well, and maturing, sufficiently early in the season to he ready for. shipment from the second week in February onwards, so as to ensure regular shipments being made to arrive in the United Kingdom at intervals until the middle of June. During the. season 1902. Tasmania shipped the following kinds:— New YoTk Pippin (Cleopatra), Scarlet Permain, R-bstone Pippin, Alfriston, Alexander, Prince Alfred, Blenheim Orange, Cox's Orange Pipp'm, Scarlet Nonpar icl, French Crab, Prince of the Pippins (Adams's Permain as _rown in this colony), and several other kinds to a lesser extent. ' Munro's Favourite, Jonathan, Esopus Spitzenburgb, Cornish Aromatic, Lord Burleigh, Lord Lennox and Golden Reinette are equally as good as any of the above for export purposes. A matter to be taken into consideration is that it is useless to plant varieties which mature too i late for shipment to the British market, hence our most profitable sorts, probably, will be such kinds as mature about the season of Rhodes's Orange^and Lord Lennox, followed by such kinds as Jonathan, Golden Reinpttej Fiye-arown Pippin, Early Summer Pearmain. and Prince of the Pippins. . . ■ i _____________________!