GUIDE TO GROWERS

Western Star, Issue 1294, 6 March 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

GUIDE TO GROWERS

Fruit to Export, And How to Export Them Apples From the Agricultural Gazette o/N.S. W. PART 11. In order to fully develop the flavour and keeping qualities that it is absolutely essential the fruit shall possess in order to be up to the standard of excellence required by English buyers' it is necessary to grow this fruit in the colder parts f f the Colony, or, at any rate, in those districts where there is a cold winter which allows the tree to become thus, thoroughly dormant.' Coast-grown apples are unsuitable for export, as they are riot of sufficient quality nor are they good keepers. The following varietiea of apples are suitable for export, and most of them have been successfully exported either from Tasmania, South Australia, or Victoria, and short description I give of each variety should enable intending exporters to know the class of fruit to grow. We have described altogether thirty varieties which, we need hardly repeat, are far too many for any one grower to plant ; but owing to the great variety of soils in the apple-growing districts of the Colony. We have thought it beat to give a full list, so that growers can solecfc from it the varieties that are best suited to their individual districts.

London Pippin. —Commonly called Fivecrowned Pippin. - A medium-sized fruit, roundish but somewhat flattened, having: distinct ridges round the eye, which is usually closed ; colour, pale yellow, with brownish-rod cheek—in" some districts it does not colour up at all; stem deeply set: % firstlciaß3 cooking apple, dries well, and is also fit for deaaert. The tree is a moderately Btrong grower, a good bearer, and comparatively free from woolly aphis. It does remarkably well in all the colder districts, where it is a good keeper. Stone Pippen— Commonly and erroneusly called Winter Permain. The correct name of this apple is Griiner Purstein (Neilson). A medium-sized fruit, roundish inclined to conical ; eye generally tightly closed ; colour, green, / becoming pale yellow when ripe, with a red cheek when fully exposed to the Bun. Like the London Pippen it. colours much better in some districts than others ; stem set moderately deep, sometimes surrounded with rough brown russet, a good late cooking apple. The tree is a strong upright grower j a good bearer in all the colder district, but is somewhat liable to powdery mildew. It is not usually badly affected with woolly aphis. Cleopatra. -Called erroneously New York Pippin. A medium-sized fruit, roundish, oblong, inclined to conical; eye closed ; colour, greenish-yellow, becoming yellow, when ripe ; stem long and thin, deeply inserted ; a first-class dessert apple. The tree is a fairly strong grower, with upright but somewhat slender branches, and is usually a good bearer when free from, disease. This variety is, however, very subject to powdery mildew, black spot, and mouldy core. It ia one great advantage over most varieties of apples, and that is that it may be gathered as soon as it is large enough, and it will still oolour and ripen up without shrivelling. Victorian shipments of this apple have realised top prices on the London market. Sturmer Pippen. — Fruit rather below medium size, roundish, flattened, broadest at the base, narrowing towards the eye; which is closed ; colour,'green, becoming greenish-yellow with a dull brownish-red; cheek and a good deal of brown russet: stem set moderately deep, and the stem cavity lined with russet; a very good late -keeping apple, valuable for dessert, cooking and drying ; a great favourite on the London market. The tree is a good upright grower and a heavy bearer, but, to he produced to perfection it must be grown only in the coldest districts. This variety 1b very extensively grown in and exported from Tasmania, and it may be seen in the Sydney stores as late as October. It is not badly affected by woolly aphis, scab, or powdery mildew. Scarlet Nonpareil— Commonly and erroneously called Soarlet Permain. Fruit, medium sized or rather below, round, narrowing towards the eye which is open ; colour, yellow, streaked with red on the snnny side, but bright red streaked with darker red, on the sunny side, and covered with russet patches which are much more plentiful in some specimens than in others; stem either a mere fleshy knob or an inch or more long inserted in a small round cavity, which is lined with silvery russet ; a first- olass dessert apple, and a great favourite on the London market. Tree, a moderately strong upright grower, though somewhat slender ; a good bearer and a fair keeper, being at its best from March to June. This variety, like the Sturmer Pippin, is extensively grown in Tasmania for export. Is is not as a rule badly affected by woolly aphis, but ia somewhat subject to bitter pit. Winter Screening —Commonly known aa French Crab. Fruit, medium size, roundish, eye closed ; colour, dark green, occasionally with few russety dots on tracing stem short, inserted in a round cavity lined with rußset ; a very late keeping good cooking apple, largely exported from Tasmania, The tree is a good grower, but in this Colony is usually very subject to woolly aphis. Perfection,—A. medium steed, rouud even shaped apple, closely resembling Soarlet Nonpareil, of which variety it is doubtless a seedling; eye generally closed : colour) yellow streaked with red on the shady side, but bright red streaked with darker red, on the sunny side, the whole fruit being covered with light russet dots which are most numerous on the side ; stem nserted in a medium cavity ; a good dessert apple, in season from March to June, and one that does well in all the colder parts of the Colony. Tree, a strong very upright grower, a good bearer, and practically free from woolly aphis as veil.

King of the Pippins. —Known in Tasmania erroneously aa Adam's Pearmains. Fruit, medium sizo, roundish, even shaped eye - tr, pale yellow with red cheek, and little russet ; stem short : stem cavity and base covered with light russet; an autumn dessert apple of the highest quality ; as its best during February and March : does well in the cold districts. Tree not a strong grower, but a good bearer, somewhat subject to woolly aphis. One of the first apples to ship. Granny Smith's Seedling.—A New South Wales seedling, raised from seed of the Frenoh Grab near Ryde on the Parrauiatta River. Fruit of large size, evenly shaped, roundish oblong, inclined to be conical, tapering towards eye which is tightly closed ; stem, lons and slender, deeply inserted in an even and regular cavity which is lined with dark green russet; colour, dark green, becoming greenish yellow when ripe, with occasionally a light red cheek, and having a few large light coloured dots over the whole surface ; a late keeping cooking apple of exceptional quality that docs remarkably well in most parts of the colony. When grown at Orange it is hard to excel as a late cooking variety. Tree, a strong grower, the young wood, though not very thick, being very tough, so that though it is a very heavy bearer, it is very unusual to see a branch broken off by the weight of the fruit. Usually fairly free from disease, though in parts it is very subject to black spots and occasionally to woolly aphis. Esopus Spitzenberg. —One of the best American apples, and a variety that does well, and is proving very popular in Victoria ; size, large, oblong, tapering to the eye, which is usually closed; colour, yellowish, wiih streaks of red on the shady side, but rich red on the sunny side, the whole fruit covered with distinct yellowish russet dots ; stem, long and slender, inserted in a wide cavity ; a dessert apple of the very best quality, being superior to the Ribston produced iu these colonies ; in season from March to June. Tree, a fair grower, spreading with slender shoots. A good bearer; but unfortunately often very subject to woolly aphis. The fruit, also, is subject to bitter pit. Despite these faults, however, it is a variety that should be largely planted in the colder districts, as its quality will always command a price that will pay for the trouble of keeping the tree free from disease. Beinette de Canada,— Often known as Triumph of Luxemburgh. Fruit large, flattened, and more or less ribbed round the eye, which is large, sometimes open, sometimes Closed ; colour, greenishyellow, with a tinge of brown on the sunny side, the whole, covered with numerous russety dots and tracings of russet; stem, long, slender, inserted in a deep., wide cavity. Tree, a strong grower, of spreading habit, a good bearer, and not very subject to disease ; the fruit may be used either for dessert or cooking, and should dry well; it keeps fairly, but is liable to shrivel. Does well generally wherever apples are grown in the colony, and especially well on the western slopes of the Blue Mountains. Beinette Franclie. —Fruit, medium size, roundish, considerably flattened] eye, partially open; colour, greenish-yellow, with brownish-red'cheek, the whole fruit thickly covered with russety spots j stem short; a good long-keeping dessert apple that will shrivel before it will rot. Tree, a moderately Btrong grower of spreading habit, a heavy bearer, and very free from disease. A consignment of fruit of this variety grown near Armidale carried well to London and realised a satisfactory price. Should dry well. Annie Elizabeth,— -Fruit large, roundish ribbed, the ribs extending to the eye, whioh is tightly cloBed; colour, pale yellow, with faint red streaks on the shady side, but bright red on the Bunny side ; stalk, short and deeply inserted; a good late cooking- variety. Tree, a strong and vigorous grower, a good bearer, and usually very free from disease. Should do well in the late districts.

De Neige (Hogg).—Fameuse (Downing), Pomme de Neige, Snowy, Mocrpark pippin, and incorreotly Fanny, which is a much "earlier Araerioan variety. Fruit medium size, even roundish, sometime* flattened; eye small, partially open j oolour yellow, tinged with red on the shady aide but deeper red on the sunny side; flesh very white, which gives the name to the fruit, stem deeply inserted; a dessert apple of medium quality, a great favourite on our local markets; in season during March and April, but it is questionable if it would pay to export. Tree, a good grower and bearer in suitable soils, but occasionally very subject to woolly aphis. Does very well in the distriots from Goulburn to Murrumburrah-