Martin's Custard

Fruit, medium sized, two inches and three-quarters wide, and two inches and a half high; roundish, ribbed on the sides, and with ridges round the crown which extend into the basin of the eye. Skin, greenish yellow, mottled with red on the shaded side, and considerably streaked with dark crimson and with a violet bloom on the side next the sun. Eye, small, quite closed, set in a narrow puckered basin. Stalk, very short, sometimes a mere fleshy knob, and sometimes woody, with a fleshy swelling on one side. Flesh, yellowish, firm, crisp, juicy, and briskly acid.

An excellent culinary apple; in use from October to Christmas.

This apple is much grown in the orchards conterminous with Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, and I am indebted for a knowledge of it to my friend the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, of Sibbertoft, near Market Harborough.

Marvellous

Fruit, small and oblate. Skin, entirely covered with brilliant crimson, and which has a fine bloom upon it, like a plum. Eye, closed, set in a shallow basin. Stalk, short. Flesh, yellow, not very juicy, with a pleasant, but not rich flavour.

The great merit of this apple is its appearance, and not its flavour. As an ornament in the dessert it will be valuable, but its season being in August, at that time its use in this respect is not much in request.

Maudlin. See Margaret.

Mead's Broading

Fruit, large, three inches and a half wide, and three inches high; round, obtusely angular, and somewhat flattened. Skin, with a pale red cheek, marked with a few broken streaks of crimson, on the side next the sun, and greenish on the shaded side; the surface strewed with large russet dots. Eye, closed, with flat convergent segments, set in a deep, wide, and plaited basin. Stamens, basal; tube, funnel-shaped. Stalk, short, inserted all its length in the rather shallow cavity, which is lined with thin russet. Flesh, tender, juicy, and mildly acid. Cells, elliptical; abaxile.

A large and handsome cooking apple, sent me by Messrs. J. R. Pearson & Son, nurserymen, Chilwell, near Nottingham; it is in use during October and November.

Megginch Favourite. See Golden Reinette.

Mela Carla (Male Carle)

Fruit, medium sized, two inches and three-quarters wide, and the same in height; roundish, inclining to ovate, narrowing a little towards the eye, but generally of an ovate shape. Skin, thin and tender, pale green at first, changing as it ripens to fine delicate waxen yellow on the shaded side, but covered with fine dark crimson on the side next the sun. Eye, small and closed, with long acuminate segments, and set in a pretty wide and deep basin, which is sometimes a little ribbed. Stalk, three-quarters of an inch long, inserted in a small and smooth cavity. Flesh, white, with a greenish tinge, very delicate, juicy, and tender, with a sweet and vinous flavour, and a perfume like that of roses.

A dessert apple which, when in perfection, is of the most exquisite flavour; but, being indigenous to a warmer climate, it does not attain its full maturity in this country. When grown in an orchard house, as I have received it from Mr. Rivers, it is equal to any specimens I have ever met with in Italy. By the aid of a south wall, in a warm and sheltered situation, it may, however, be brought to some degree of excellence. At Elvaston Castle, Mr. Barron successfully cultivated it upon earthen mounds, with an inclination to the sun of 45°. When in perfection, its flesh is as tender as a highly ripened Newtown Pippin; it is in use from December to March.

The tree is a strong and vigorous grower, and an abundant bearer.

This is of Italian origin, and is extensively cultivated about Turin. Its name is by some supposed to have been given in honour of Charlemagne, who is said to have held this fruit in high estimation.