Apple orchard full of variety

Why anyone more than 100 years ago would plant 20 varieties of apple trees on the one section is a mystery to him, Crosbie Grieve says.

Even more so because for some of the varieties, more than one tree was planted.

However, when he and his late wife Candace, bought the 0.8ha property about 20 minutes from Waikaia, that was all that was planted on the section — apart from four pear trees, a couple of plums, cherries and a few willows.

The couple lived in Gore and one day visited Waikaia while on a fishing trip.

The couple bought the property Apple Spread because of the number of apple trees.

They retired there 12 years ago.

It is thought Albert Lette, who worked on Glenaray Station, built the cottage about 1914 and planted the apple trees.

Most appeared to be cooking apples but there were several eating apples, one of which was probably a variety called Alexander.

Some were large and cooked down to a "mush" and "others are tiny".

"One variety of apple has red streaks all through the flesh inside it."

The names of the other varieties of apples are not known.

Mr Grieve once spoke to a heritage fruit tree specialist from England and showed him a selection of the apples.

The specialist said while it would take time to identify the varieties, he believed many would no longer be found in Europe but would still be growing in the colonies like Australia and New Zealand where the settlers planted them.

Throughout the years Mr Grieve and his wife perfected making apple cider from the apples.

He also made apple cider vinegar and the remaining crop was eaten fresh, dried or frozen.

The apples had a superior taste to ones bought at the supermarket, he said.

"You go and buy an apple from the supermarket and it’s got no flavour."

All the trees had been numbered and their fruit photographed and matched to the tree.

Grafts of the trees had been taken and had been planted, which was fortunate as some of the trees had died since.

He did not spray the trees and did not prune the older trees now. The only fertiliser that was added to the ground in the orchard was provided by seven sheep.

"They’ve been contracted to keep the grass down. In return I promise not to eat them."

His definition of a happy sheep was one that was eating an apple.

"The sheep hang around under the trees waiting for an apple.

"They get an apple in their mouth, the juice is running down, they’ve got their head back and their eyes closed munching away — they are just in heaven."

He also used the wool to mulch the trees.

His wife was an avid gardener and laid out the garden.

Over time she planted about 35 rhododendrons and 70 old-fashioned roses.

By Sandy Eggleston