SIAMESE-TWIN APPLES.
It is seriously suggested by Mr. W. Davidson in an admir- able little book on fruit culture, just published, that most of us in the future will not plant a Cox or a Bramley's seedling or what not but, say, an Eclinville-cum-Beauty of Bath. The prophecy is founded on the rapid growth of knowledge in the causes of fertility. A great many apples, plums, and pears are more or less self-sterile : they must have neighbours of a different sort if they are to bear well. More than this, it is found in some experimental work that these fructifying neighbours are more effective if planted in very close juxta- position. It is a logical conclusion from this that the best results ought to follow from growing two different apples or pears on the same tree. There is nothing freakish in the idea ; and nurserymen could put such trees on their list if there were any demand. Certainly where old trees are regrafted, for the sake of changing the variety, it might be a wise precaution to graft two sorts that have a natural affinity. Very many of these affinities have now been worked out.
Previous page
