THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE SLOG QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 21 – AUTUMN 2014 * FRUIT GROWING * *CONSERVING LOCAL ORCHARDS* *PROMOTING HERITAGE VARIETIES* www.slorchards.co.uk In this Issue Editorial Forthcoming Events Recent Events SLOG Orchard Update Plagues & Pestilence: Brown Rot Heritage Apple Variety: Margil A Tale of Two Apples Orchard Profile : Low Stanger Farm Fruit Focus: Mulberry Rootstock Orders SLOG Shop Slog Discount at Suppliers 1 2 2 4 5 5 6 6 7 8 8 8 Editorial The soft fruit crop is well behind us now, but a good crop it was as a result of an early start and a warm early summer. Plums are now mostly picked and most varieties have also had a good year. Pears look good while apples are mixed, depending on the variety, nevertheless all are up to two weeks early, which means even the late varieties should ripen properly. In anticipation of the harvest, the SLOG fruit presses are ready for action. This year we have a new mill: the Spiedel mill has replaced the Shark which has been retired after three years service. More detail on the Spiedel mill in the AGM report. The earlier you book, the better the chance of getting the weekend date you want. For the medium kit (Spiedel mill plus Hydropress +/- pasteuriser) call Adele Jones/Mike Wolford on 015395 52102 or email mwandaj@btinternet.com. For the large press and trailer call Jill McDonald on 015395 52289 or email sec@slorchards.co.uk. Hire charge is £20 per day for the medium press kit. The large press hire charge is £25 per day for individuals and remains unchanged at £50 for groups or £25 for local community group pressings co-ordinated by a SLOG member. The hand scratter and barrel press are now almost redundant so we plan to offer them on a free of charge collect and return basis to local schools to encourage children to take a greater interest in local fruit. After seven years of SLOG’s existence, it is all change on the Committee. Jill McDonald has stood down after three years as our Membership Secretary. We are very grateful to Jill for the thorough and professional way she has carried out this role. Adam Rubinstein has now taken on the role and you may already have seen messages from him using new mailing software. Andy Gilchrist has stood down after three years as Chairman and is replaced by Penny Hinsinger while Adam Walker has taken on the role of Treasurer. Jill and Andy remain as Committee members providing mentoring where required by their successors to ensure a smooth and orderly transition. We still welcome new members to the Committee. You can either call any Committee member to express your interest, or just sit in as an observer at the next Committee meeting which is scheduled for Tuesday 28th October at 7.30pm at the Derby Arms, Witherslack. The Committee are currently working on the details of a tree planting grant scheme, the pilot of which should start up ready for the coming winter planting season and be targeted at Community orchards. Further details will be provided in the next Newsletter, and on the THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE website. FORTHCOMING EVENTS For the most up-to-date information look in: http://www.slorchards.co.uk/SLOGevents.html Thursday September 11th - Westmorland County Show, Lane Farm, Crooklands, Kendal 9.00am – 5.30pm Once again, the SLOG team will be at the show to answer all your orchard questions and demonstrate our range of apple pressing equipment. Directions: http://www.westmorlandshow.co.uk/find-us.html Saturday September 20th – Orchard visit and apple tasting at the SLOG orchard 24pm Come and have a look around the SLOG orchard and taste the different varieties Directions: The orchard is on the Underley Road Allottments, between Underley Road & Hallgarth Circle just east of Windermere Road, Kendal (A591).The easiest parking is on Hallgarth Close (southern edge of Hallgarth Circle), then walk through lane due south past sheds, up path on right into allottments and along to plots 4, 7 & 10. The south entrance is off Underley Rd, from where a narrow green lane leads directly to plots 4, 7 & 10. Saturday September 27th - Apple Pressing, Wilf's Cafe, Staveley nr Kendal 11.00am to 4.00pm Bring your (clean) spare or windfall apples for juicing and containers for the juice. Directions: Wilfs Cafe: http://www.wilfscafe.co.uk/how-to-find-us.html Saturday October 4th 10.00am - 4.00pm Members' Apple pressing day at Thornbarrow, Witherslack Once again, members have a chance to bring their apples for pressing into juice. It can be pasteurised and kept, or fermented into cider. All welcome. Free to members, and visitors can join on the day. Directions: Follow A590 west and take the Witherslack turning. Pass the Derby Arms and take the 2nd turning on the left (in the village). Follow the road up the hill and take the 1st turning on the left into Thornbarrow. Continue to end of rough track. Sun Oct 12th - 11.00am - 4.00pm Apple Day at Acorn Bank, Temple Sowerby, near Penrith SLOG will join with NCOG who plan to demonstrate apple pressing. Apple identification, advice, apple tasting and grafted trees for sale. Family entertainment with range of childrens games. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/wacornbankgardenandwatermill Tuesday 2nd December – Winter Talk 7.30pm Levens Institute Speaker Jane Maggs of “Wild and Fruitful” will explain how to use both wild and cultivated fruit to make a wide range of produce. Samples to taste and produce to buy. Directions: From M6 jnctn 36 go 4 miles on A591 towards Kendal, then A590 Barrow, then after 2 miles turn right signposted Levens. Go to centre of village, Institute is on crossroads across from Methodist Chapel. No car park so park on roads nearby. RECENT EVENTS COUNTRYFEST Sat/Sun 31st May/1st June The sun shone and the ground was dry throughout the Bank Holiday weekend. The SLOG stand awaits its first visitors on Sunday morning Unfortunately, the Countryfest dates still clash with Holker, which must affect numbers. Last year we were at Holker so this year we decided to go to CountryFest. Now in its sixth year, it attracted a record 13,000 visitors. We had a steady stream of visitors to our stand in the “Grow Your Own” tent. Bob’s cider as usual proved very popular, as did our apple juice. On Saturday, a 60’ long teddy bear kite flew its way into the Guinness Book of World Records. Whatever next – should SLOG propose an inflatable apple kite? Many thanks to David, Brian, Penny, Hilary and Ros for working the stand. SUMMER ORCHARD VISIT RIBBLE ORCHARD PROJECT Saturday 21st June This was a double orchard visit to Lancashire. We started at Astley Hall in Chorley which has a fruit orchard of 64 trees within a walled 2 THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE garden. 22 apple and 4 pear trees are grown as bush trees in the centre. 6 apples and 6 pears are wall trained around the old walls. Between the central orchard and the vegetable garden runs a row of cordons containing 17 apples and 9 pears, all different and unusual varieties. Considerable work has gone into restoring them in recent years after a few years of neglect, and the result is well worth the effort. For more information on Astley Hall, see: http://www.chorley.gov.uk/Pages/AtoZ/AstleyHall.aspx We then drove west for about 25mins past several old farm orchards, to visit the orchard of John Slockett at Little Hoole. John inherited a former commercial orchard, planted in the 1920’s. The original trees are now in terminal decline. However, since 2005, Phil Rainford has been collecting scion wood from remnant apple & pear trees around the county, grafting them onto MM106 or Quince rootstock and planting the resulting maidens as cordons in John’s orchard. The cordons, of known and unknown varieties of both apples and pears, now number over 300, thus the grand title “The South Ribble Orchard Project”. And it is indeed impressive, John maintains the site beautifully with perfectly manicured grass and hardly a weed in sight. The trees themselves are vigorous and healthy and many have started cropping so Phil will have much work to do to attempt identification of the resulting fruit. Many thanks to Phil for organising a fascinating visit to two very different orchards in his home county. SLOG Annual General Meeting Tuesday 29th July The AGM at Levens Institute was attended by about thirty members on a pleasant sunny evening. A quick check around the room on fruit set this season indicated that, despite some variations, the overall prospects for apples are for a below average crop. Pears, cherries and plums however all look good according to members present. The Chairman & Acting Treasurer (Andy Gilchrist) and Membership Secretary (Jill McDonald) stood down but indicated their willingness to mentor new candidates. The following were proposed and elected: Penny Hinsinger as Chairman, Adam Rubenstein as Membership Secretary and Adam Walker as Treasurer. The Committee (now ten) was re-elected. Membership subscription rates were agreed unchanged. Reports by the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer can be viewed on the website: www.slorchards.co.uk/ Next, we auctioned off the Shark, the highest bidder being Nik Birkby. Members who have hired the Shark may recall some problems with the starting button. Although it is currently in working order, we felt that its reliability had declined such that it should be replaced. Its replacement, the Vigo Spiedel mill was on display. For more info see: http://www.vigopresses.co.uk/Catalogue/Crushe rs/Centrifugal-Mill-91202 The raffle for apple trees was drawn and the three winners were Bob Bradley, Nik Birkby and Jenny Walton, who selected Pinova, Elstar and Delbar Jubilee. After a tea break to sample Judith Shapland’s tasty pear & chocolate tart, Hilary and Phil demonstrated how to train 3 THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE young maiden whips into cordon, espalier or stepover tree forms. CARTMEL SHOW Wednesday 6th August The SLOG stand was set up in the Craft Marquee, which protected us from heavy showers during the morning which initially reduced visitor numbers. Fortunately we were on level ground so did not suffer the streams which ran through some other tents. Happily the sun came out in the afternoon and along with it increased visitor numbers who appreciated Bob’s cider and our apple juice. This is a friendly local show and most who stopped for a chat on the stand were either local or from North Lancashire. It was good to see some old faces again. Many thanks to David and Jill who helped on the stand. BUDDING & SUMMER PRUNING WORKSHOP Saturday 16th August A very select band gathered at the yurts to try to improve our budding skills. Phil showed us how to t-bud while Hilary explained chip budding. After first practising on willow, we attempted the real thing on apple (MM106) and pear (Quince A) rootstocks. Phil brought a selection of local varieties of pear scion wood, together with examples of the fruit from each variety (above). Afterwards we visited the cordons to collect scion wood of other varieties and to practice summer pruning. Since there were so few of us, we decided to return later in the month. Accordingly, Hilary, Ros, Hugh and Andy managed to prune (and weed) and also relabel about eighty of the cordons before being driven back into the yurts by the rain. SLOG ORCHARD UPDATE The grass is now well established over the entire site and has been mown thrice. The Summer working party on 2nd August went ahead despite a poor weather forecast. Adam hand thinned the fruit, which on Fillingham Pippin and Saturn had an excessively heavy set. The fruit is already big and colourful on several varieties. Then the entire team of Adam, Mark, Romola, Gail & Andy worked along the rows summer pruning. Afterwards we set to weeding within the rows and after just two hours work, we left a very tidy site without getting too wet. Summer pruning lets more light in to colour up the fruit The trees are healthy and have made good growth this season. Many of them are bearing fruit this year. Even after the hand thinning a fair amount remains. We will have an open day on Saturday 20th September from 2pm when members can taste all the labelled varieties. 4 THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE SLOG’s constitution refers to “recognising the importance of biodiversity”; this frog feasting on the inhabitants of a decaying tree stump amply demonstrates biodiversity in the SLOG orchard The next working party is planned for November when we intend to plant about forty apple & pear maidens that were grafted in spring and to tie in new growth to long canes. “PLAGUES & PESTILENCE” BROWN ROT This problem was previously discussed in Newsletter #18 (Winter 2013). However, enquiries at recent shows indicates that this disease is more widespread than usual this year. Damaged fuit should not be stored even if it appears disease free because the fungal spores may well lurk unseen and germinate during storage. Brown rot can spread very quickly in store, so again, vigilance is required to prevent this. HERITAGE APPLE VARIETY REVIEW: MARGIL The earliest British reference to Margil records it as being grown in Surrey in 1750. It is thought to be much older and probably originating in France. It has several synonyms, some French, but one, “Small Ribston” sums it up succinctly. Its popularity seems to have spread quickly across England because it was grown in the Crosthwaite area in the late 18th C. Hilary Wilson found records which show that “Margells” were planted next to Widow Postlethwaite’s cottage on the Common at Grange-over-Sands in 1812. This spelling is presumably a consequence of much information during that period being passed on (imprecisely) by word of mouth rather than the written word. The infected fruit turns brown (above) and creamy coloured concentric rings develop which quickly cover the entire fruit. The fungus (Monilia) is a a secondary invader, that is to say it cannot penetrate unblemished skin, but enters via insect damage, bird pecks, scab cracks etc. The same fungus can infect pears, plums, cherries etc. from mid-summer onwards. Good orchard hygiene calls for the immediate removal of infected fruits to minimise spead to others. 5 THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE Photo courtesy R.V.Roger Nurserymen Margil is a smallish apple with a Cox-type flavour which is described as even more intense and aromatic than Cox or Ribston. However, it needs a sunny situation and season to bring out the flavour. It is less vigorous than most apple varieties, producing smallish trees, which make it a very suitable variety where space is limited. It was a popular late dessert apple in Victorian times, but declined in the 20th C, when commercial growers preferred other varieties such as Cox. Its picking time is October and it can be stored into the New Year. Due to its historic significance and local interest we have a Margil on MM106 in the SLOG orchard. A TALE OF TWO APPLES If you visit a National Apple Collection such as Brogdale or Wisley, you will see that they have two trees of each variety. There is a good reason for that as the following story illustrates. wood for both came from Brogdale and both were grafted on identical MM106 rootstocks on the same day in March 2012. The tree from which the apple on the right came was planted in the SLOG orchard, while the other was planted in another orchard only a mile away. All the fruit on each tree was similar to those shown above, ie all big or all small – why? There was no apparent pest or disease problem on either tree. So the answer must lie underground. Clearly there was no problem underground in the SLOG orchard while there must have been in the other one, though it is impossible to be definite without digging the tree up. This will be done in the dormant season. Meanwhile the moral of the story is that if this variety, which is probably being grown for the first time in Cumbria, had been judged by the tree with the small apples, it would have been rejected, But the tree in the SLOG orchard shows that this is indeed a good early dessert to grow in our area. Unfortunately, space did not permit the growing of two trees of each variety in the SLOG orchard, which is why supporting data from members’ orchards is still important. ORCHARD PROFILE LOW STANGER FARM Peter and Michelle Kerr have been farming at Low Stanger Farm for about eight years. The farm is certified organic, situated a couple of miles south of Cockermouth close to the River Cocker at an altitude of 250’. Their main business is market gardening from which they supply a wide range of seasonal vegetables to the local market, much of it via a box scheme. These two apples are both of the same variety, but from different trees. The variety is Alice, an early dessert apple from Sweden. The scion 6 THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE They already had one orchard locally, planted in 1997, but they planted two more orchards at Low Stanger over the 2008-2011 period. These contain 340 apple trees with 80 different varieties on MM106 rootstock grown as bush/half-standards. The trees were sourced from Adam’s Apples and John Butterworth, the organic nurseryman in Ayrshire, however Peter has not been entirely satisfied with the quality and now grafts his own trees to replace the occasional failures. Their annual rainfall of 45” does not sound excessive but Peter reckons it is wet two days out of three, so the humidity favours canker, causing tree death in susceptible varieties. Peter has raised two new varieties himself. Cockermouth Codlin is an early cooker found growing as a seedling in a local hedgerow which appears to be a seedling of Keswick Codlin but flowers and fruits later. Lorton Vale is a mid-late season dessert apple from a Granny Smith pip. Unfortunately it is susceptible to scab. Both these varieties are being grown in the SLOG orchard to assess their suitability in South Lakeland. Being an organic farm makes it difficult to manage scab-susceptible varieties. Peter has tried spraying sulphur but with limited success. The fruit quality on the scabsusceptible varieties is therefore not good enough for the wholesale market. He markets some dessert varieties through the box scheme but has found that customers don’t want cookers because either they or their neighbours already grow their own. Produce is also sold at the farm gate which effectively means to customers who collect because there is no passing traffic. They host an open day in September which includes apple tastings of a range of their different varieties – watch the website www.lowstanger.co.uk for this year’s date. Directions: Approaching from the east on A66, turn south for Lorton, opposite Embleton, then turn right along Hundith Hill Road and go straight over the crossroads towards Eaglesfield, then take first left. Postcode for Satnav: CA13 9TS Tel: 01900 823558 FRUIT FOCUS MULBERRY Mulberry fruits look rather like something from one of the many cane fruit hybrids but the difference is that they are grown on a substantial tree which develops a spreading habit and tends to become quite twisted and gnarled over time. Picture courtesy of RHS This is hail damage from a storm just one week before this photo The black mulberry tree (Morus nigra) grows on its own roots reaching 25 – 40’ in height at maturity which comes after 20 – 50 years. It will grow on any soil provided it is moist but well 7 THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE drained and prefers a sunny sheltered site. The species originates from South-west Asia and was imported to Britain in the 17thC. There are a number of varieties to choose from. There is also a smaller, white mulberry (Morus alba) but its fruit is considered to be inferior. An indication of the regal status of the genus Morus is that the National Collection is held at Buckingham and Kensington Palaces. Needless to say, visiting is by prior appointment! Mulberries are relatively easy to grow. It is important to keep them well watered in the first year until established. They are not much troubled by pests and the only significant disease problem is bacterial canker which causes dieback and affected shoots should be cut out and burnt whenever seen. Pruning, if required for formative shape, should be done in early winter when dormant about a month after leaf fall to avoid sap bleeding from cut surfaces. Mulberries are self-fertile, so you only need one, which is just as well since many gardens may only have space for one. Propagation is by hardwood cuttings or from seed. One of the best examples in Cumbria is situated by the entrance booth at Levens Hall. For more information on the mulberry, see: www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/Profile?PID=642 ROOTSTOCK ORDERS As per previous years, SLOG will consolidate orders from members for rootstocks for delivery early 2015 in time for grafting. Rootstocks available include: Prices vary between £1-£2. Call Andy Gilchrist on 01539 727772 or email andyjgilchrist@hotmail.co.uk to place your order. Deadline for orders is the end of September. SLOG SHOP 1. SLOG has a range of 1yr old container grown maiden apple trees for sale at £13.50 each, comprising traditional varieties suitable for our Northern climate on MM106 rootstocks. Visit http://www.slorchards.co.uk/TreesForSale.html to see the list and for guidance on purchase and collection. 2. We also have a stock of spiral rabbit guards for young trees. These have the added advantage that they protect the young tree’s trunk from misdirected hoes or strimmers. Size is 38mm diameter x 18” high, in either brown or clear plastic, with holes for air circulation. Priced at 3 for £1 they are a bargain for protecting maiden trees. 3. Wells & Winter labels are the most costeffective permanent solution for recording tree variety identity. They are rigid black plastic labels measuring 2 x 3½” (5x9cm), giving a permanent and very visible result. They are available at 15p each along with a deposit for the silver pen (if taken away) 4. Recipe books: 28 full colour pages detailing 45 recipes for a wide range of fruits only £2.50. 5. Apple Notelet cards £2 per pack of 5 different cards each featuring a different apple variety. 6. The Apples & Orchards of Cumbria: Lavishly illustrated with over 100 full colour photos describing the twenty or so Cumbrian apple varieties and the fifteen orchards open to the public. Judged runner-up in the “Landscape & Tradition” category of the Lakeland Book of the Year Awards, 2014. £9 All the above items are available at SLOG events such as Shows, Apple Days and the Winter Talk. Apple: MM106/MM111/M25/M26/M9/M27 Pear: Quince A/C/Pyrodwarf Plum: St. Julien A/Pixy 8 THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE SLOG Discount at Suppliers: Rogers & Beetham Nursery SLOG has negotiated a 10% discount at Rogers of Pickering for SLOG members. When you place an order for any kind of fruit: trees, bushes, etc., quote your SLOG membership number and Rogers will apply 10% discount to your total bill. For mail orders go to: http://www.rvroger.co.uk/?linksource=frontpage We also have a 5% discount at Beetham Nursery applicable to all items. Just show your SLOG membership card at the checkout. TAILPIECE “The Apple of Your Eye” is a quarterly publication, the next one being the winter issue due midNovember. Contributing articles, preferably in word.doc, are welcome, along with photos where possible, by the end of October 2014 to: newsletter@slorchards.co.uk Disclaimer - The information in this newsletter is provided on the understanding that SLOG makes no warranties, either expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information. Nor does SLOG warrant that the use of this information is free of any claims of copyright infringement. The opinions expressed in this publication do not neccessarily represent the views of SLOG. © 2014 South Lakeland Orchard Group 9