3 SEPTEMBER 1948, Page 14

In the Garden

In a note last week on the six best roses, something was said of McGredy's yellow and Mrs. McGredy. I read in an account of the incomparable Southport flower-show that these two varieties are picked out as claiming a certain pre-eminence in the prize-winning display. And what are the six best apples ? At this date I would put Langley's Pippin in the lead. They ripen in mid-August, are good bearers and have a more pleasing consistency than most other earlies, though no earlies can compete with the best of the later apples--Cox, St. Everard and the rest, and even several of the russets—in fullness of flavour. The wasps, fortunately not very numerous, seem to prefer the Langleys to the plums, which is a pity, for plums are a bumper crop—actually breaking the branches—and apples are rare. Happily the thinnings of unripe plums make an excellent jam.

W. BEAC:H THOMAS.