New Zealand Tree Crops Association

Coastal Otago Branch

www.treecrops.org.nz    Research    Apples    Apple Cultivar Preservation Orchard

Contents:

• To identify, collect and preserve apple plant material
• List of Cultivars

The Coastal Otago Branch has been actively engaged in the conservation of apple cultivars since 1995. Our aim is a simple one: to identify, collect and preserve for the future plant material from as many as possible of the many old apple trees still surviving in the region.
Like others involved in similar projects around the world, we have recognized the serious practical difficulty in obtaining scion wood or grafted trees of apple varieties nowadays deemed “uncommercial”. We want to preserve these cultivars before they might be lost forever.

 

Our work began with the development of an orchard site at Saddle Hill to the south of Dunedin. In terms of microclimate and soil, it was less than ideal for the purpose but the landowner had generously made the land available at no cost to the Branch and it was situated close enough to the city to allow for regular inspection and maintenance by our members. So, operating on the principle that beggars can’t be choosers, we planted out grafted trees at the site over successive seasons. It is a tribute to the hardiness of the species that neither the cold conditions nor the heavy, “gluggy” clay soil proved a significant hindrance to survival. Unfortunately, incursions by possums and (especially) farm stock caused constant and, in far too many cases, lethal damage, to the point where we felt the need to look for a more secure location for the orchard. The search began in 2002 and in 2003 negotiations were completed for the use of land at Volco Park on the northern approach to the city. Although elevated and subject to low cloud in the north-easterly conditions that often prevail in the summer season, it nevertheless represents a great improvement over the Saddle Hill site. By contrast to the poorly drained, heavy clay soil at Saddle Hill, Volco Park is well drained, has a northerly aspect and good fertile soil derived from basalt and enjoys excellent air drainage. It is perhaps a little high above sea level for optimum fruit production, but this is not our purpose.

 

Before the first plantings went in at Volco Park, the entire area of the orchard (roughly 55 by 50 metres) was fenced to deter possums. Since then we have added “hot” wires to exclude grazing stock. Shelter trees (Leyland cypress, alders and natives) have also been planted and should help to mitigate the effect of the wind from the south-west. The first newly grafted trees were put in the ground in 2003. The following year we moved what trees we could from Saddle Hill. Trees too large for relocation had scion wood taken from them for regrafting. The same year saw 46 further trees (representing 136 cultivars) planted. To these a further 38 trees (some 120 cultivars) were added in 2005. At the time of writing (July, 2005) we are planning to graft more than 20 more trees for planting in the winter.

 

Our method of propagation is to graft scion wood on to large MM 106 rootstocks. Three grafts are put on each rootstock. Scion wood is collected in the winter and kept under refrigeration until we do the grafting in the spring. The grafted trees are then planted in a sheltered spot for the summer and autumn. They are then wrenched and moved to the orchard in the winter, where they are planted at 3 meter spacings with 4 meters between rows.

 

The crucial part of the project is, of course, the discovery of plant material for preservation. We were fortunate that the transfer of the orchard from Saddle Hill to Volco Park received prominent coverage in The Otago Daily Times. As a result, we were flooded with responses from people far and wide, from Waimate in the north to Gore in the south. These contacts, as well as word of mouth and other sources of local knowledge have ensured that we will be busy for many years yet tracking down potential new additions to the preservation orchard. As well as these local sources of scion wood, the Branch also has a working arrangement with HortResearch, Havelock North to conserve cultivars on their behalf. Currently, we receive 30 cultivars annually to add to our collection.

 

By far the most demanding part of this project is the identification of the apples that come to our notice. Once we have sought out potential new material, the first stage is to collect fruit from the tree. This is sent on to Jim Dunckley for identification. To facilitate this task, four apples are required. These are immediately described and then photographed under strictly controlled conditions. Once this has been done, the work of identification can proceed at leisure. Additional information about the source material, such as the age of the tree from which it was taken, or the cooking qualities of the fruit can also be of great help. Thus armed, Jim then uses books and internet sources, as well as a photo library of known cultivars which he has created. He is also able to check his surmises against the apple pages of old nurserymen‘s catalogues to ascertain whether a particular variety has been sold locally in the past. When luck is on his side, an identification can be arrived at in half an hour, but it can also turn out that, after several days work, no progress has been made and a seedling has to be suspected. Jim has also set up contact with several overseas experts and they help each other with difficult cases. To date, some 205 different cultivars have been identified, many with certainty, others with a degree of subjective opinion based on long experience.

 

In selecting which cultivars to preserve in the orchard, we have had to be selective. At present, we give priority to collecting scion wood from trees under threat from development or advanced decrepitude. It will certainly be some years yet before most of the local trees have been found, sampled and identified. The Volco Park orchard is already a substantial resource; in due course it will become a repository of national (and possibly international) significance.

Cultivar List

 

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http://www.treecrops.org.nz/resrch/apple/cotago05.html
Created: 2005 August 16 - Modified: 2008 July 11