It is a good many years since this variety was brought to the attention
of Canadian fruit growers. There has been time enough to allow of its
being tried in a great variety of soils, exposures, and latitudes, and
in which to test the quality of the fruit, and to ascertain the position
it will take in the markets. The charm of novelty has had time to pass
away, and the fruit to assume its true place, the place that will be
assigned to it by its intrinsic worth.
Our climate is one that demands of our apple trees a hardy and healthy
constitution. It is essentially a cold climate—with quite a range of
variation in the degree of cold, it is true, but in no part of our
Province toned down to anything warmer than temperate, while in much of
it the cold may justly be termed severe. Hence it is of the first
importance in a very large part of the country that the apple trees to
be planted there should be able to endure a great degree of cold. Owing
to the neglect of this very important matter, many hundreds of apple
trees have been planted, only to struggle for a time with the rigours of
the climate, and sooner or later to give over the unequal contest. The
result has been that planters have become discouraged, and have given up
attempting to grow apples, under the impression that it is impossible.
Those who reside in those unfavorable localities may be compelled to
forego somewhat in quality and richness of flavor, and to content
themselves with varieties that do not come up to the pomological
standard of “best,” but fortunately we have even now several varieties
that will endure a severe degree of cold, and bear fruit if not “best”
in quality, certainly a great deal better than to do without apples.
The Duchess of Oldenburgh has proved itself to be one of those varieties
which can bear without suffering a very intense degree of cold, and
yield an abundant crop of good sized, handsome looking, and truly
valuable apples; and which can therefore be confidently recommended for
planting in any place where an apple tree can be expected to grow. The
tree is hardy, not only, but vigorous, forms a handsome rounded head,
and is truly an object of beauty when the broad glossy-green foliage is
set off in contrast with the bright showy fruit. It also comes early
into bearing, and every other year yields large crops. The apples are
above medium size, very regularly and handsomely formed, quite uniform,
and very free from blemishes of any kind. The skin of the fruit is
smooth, yellow, washed and streaked very beautifully with red, and
covered with a light-blue bloom, which gives it such an attractive and
showy appearance, that it will command at all times a ready sale in the
markets. The flesh is yellowish-white, tender, juicy, and of a brisk
sub-acid flavor. It is a splendid cooking apple, there being none to
rival it in its season. In the County of Lincoln it ripens in the end of
August or early part of September. It does not keep long, hence it is
not safe to plant it very largely for market, unless assured of being
able to dispose of them quickly.
This variety originated in Russia, and from its hardiness one might
suppose that its birth place had been quite on the borders of Siberia.
It has taken very kindly to our Canadian soil and climate, and gives
promise of,—nay, may we not say has already established,—a reputation
for fruitfulness, beauty, and utility, in every part of the land.
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