THE BEST APPLE?
Which is the best apple ? In a symposium on this pertinent question an Australian plumped for "Jonathan," an apple that is not grown in England. It claims a certain pre- eminence in several countries overseas ; and imported here is a favourite, though to some English palates its flavour has the suggestion of being doctored, of being something rather more sugary than an apple ought to be. Is there any known reason why it should not be grown in England ? We are apt to judge apples by the standard of our own gardens, however small. In mine the most popular " eater" —a wonderful term—is Coronation. It has its share in the flavour of Cox, front which it derives ; is bigger and does not suffer from the biennial heresy that is apt to affect both Cox and Blenheim. Bramley's Seedling and Lane's Prince Albert have proved much the most consistent "cookers." Yet the favourite is " Gascoigne's Scarlet," especially for harvest festivals. It is as beautiful as a rose bush ; it bears very consistently and is both a cooker and an eater or, as some say, neither a cooker nor an eater. But it does not keep. Doubtless, if a vote were taken, and the franchise extended to tits, ants and wasps, Cox's would win easily, in a Cox's year ; and this year Cox has flourished.
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