Apple Growing in Ulster

The Annals of History are evidence that apples have been cultivated in England since at least the time of the Roman occupation. It would therefore seem a reasonable theory that their introduction into Ireland took place about the same time. However, it is unfortunate that there is little information in old Irish history relating to apple growing. Perhaps this is because apple growing is a long term peaceful art and there have been few periods in the early history of Ireland to pursue such a venture.

The earliest records of apple growing in Ulster relates to the planting of an apple tree in the neighbourhood of Armagh. The story is that this tree was planted by St Patrick at Ceangoba east of the city. The first actual historical evidence for apple growing in Ulster is contained in the obituary of the head of the Macans who died in the year 1155. The Macan tribe ruled in the barony of O'Neiland and this same barony is today the main apple growing centre in Ulster. In his obituary Macan is praised 'for the strong drink made for the use of his tribe from apples grown in his orchards'.

Historical records are silent from that time down to the end of the 16th century in the day of Elizabeth the First. Even then the only references to apples seem to be found in contemporary literature and verse. However English history for the same period is more generous in its recording on apples. Two of the oldest known English apples - the Pearmain and Costard were recorded in 1204 and 1296 respectively and it is recorded that the Costard sold in Oxford at 1s for 100. I think it is very probable that these varieties found their way to Ireland. There are records to show that a variety called Costard was planted in Co Armagh in the 19th century but this must have been some other old variety because the real Costard was disappearing in England at the end of the 17th Century.

In the 17th century there are notices in the Ulster Plantation settlement papers regarding 'the setting of fruit trees in orchards and gardens circa 1611', but such plantings were most likely confined to the few free-holding tenants at that time. It is unfortunate that there is no information regarding the rentals for the estates granted by James I to undertakers in O'Neiland. These documents would likely have given particulars as to the properties on which apples were being grown.

Early leases encouraging apple growing
The earliest leases which compelled tenants to plant fruit trees are preserved in the records of the Brownlow Estate in O'Neiland. These date from 1666 in the reign of Charles II and the largest orchards consisted of 20 apples, 12 plums, 12 cherries and 6 pear trees. The lease required that the orchard should be 'enclosed by a ditch and quick-setts of whitethorn'. In a particular instance a certain Wm Copeland was to build a house and 'also to plant an orchard of 12 apple trees, 6 pear trees, 6 plum tree, 6 cherry trees with ditch and quick-setts of whitethorn, hazel with sycamores 10 yards asunder'.

Cider making in Co Armagh
The Rev W Brooke rector of Drumcree wrote from Portadown on 26 November 1682 describing the barony of O'Neiland. He stated that cider was being sold at 30s per hogshead and that some people were making 20 to 30 hogsheads per season. Seven years later King William's cidermaker, a certain Paul le Harper, arrived in Portadown to make cider for the Army. Lord Drogheda who commanded a regiment stationed at Tandragee recorded that there was much cider there in the Spring of 1690. These are the facts but one would hesitate to ascribe the victory at the Boyne to cider from the Portadown District in O'Neill.

Apple growing in other parts of Ulster in the 17th century
The art of apple growing was not confined to Co Armagh during this period in the 17th century. Lord Conway had estates in Down and Antrim and we learn from preserved correspondence between his Lordship and his Agent in 1664 that Portmore in Co Antrim is a 'place likely for fruit'. Apple trees were sent from England and planted in 1667. The more precise skills in apple culture were practised in the 17th century for we learn that in March 1668 Lord Conway's gardener received sufficient scions to graft 1000 stocks.

Apple growing in Co Tyrone has also a long history for correspondence by the Earl of Orrory mentions the cutting down of an ancient apple tree in Caledon in 1739. In the Ordnance survey for Co Londonderry published in 1837 there are notes on 3 nurseries which sold apple trees at sixpence each.

It seems that in these areas also much of the apple crop went to make cider but records show that in 1802 there was a great demand for fresh apples and an export trade to Scotland was in existence.

By the end of the 17th century apple growing had already suffered many setbacks including the Civil War in 1642 and the Revolution of 1688-90. Furthermore the beginning of the 18th century saw the introduction of linen weaving into the household with the consequent neglect of agriculture. Under such pressures one might have expected the apple industry to disappear but his did not happen. On the contrary landlords continued to compel tenants to plant fruit trees under the terms of their leases.

A survey of the See Lands of Armagh made in 1703 gives a detailed account of apple growing on the farms held by the Archbishop's tenants. From this source we learn that there was orchards in the townlands of 'Cavan, Ballytrue, Money, Ballywilly, Ballyhegan and Roughen'. These same townlands are today in the centre of the main apple growing area of Ulster.

From the beginning of the 19th century onwards the various Surveys and recorded reports indicate that the planting of orchards was on the increase. Such sources of information are Coote's 'Survey of Co Armagh' in 1804, Thackeray's visit to Armagh in 1843 and Bassetts' Co Armagh in 1888'. All these sources indicate that apple growing was an extensive feature in the Portadown-Loughgall-Richhill Districts.

The Census figures taken in 1841 support this evidence of expansion of apple growing in Ulster. The Census reckoned that 1,324 acre had been in existence by 1791 and that there was a total of 9,533 acres in 1841.

Varieties in fashion at the end of the 19th century
The list of varieties fashionable around 1880 runs into well over one hundred and the following names are some of the more worthwhile varieties:-

In concluding this section I would like to say that it is a widely held belief that the introduction of the apple to Ulster is due to English planters in the reign of James the First (1603 - 1625). However, 2 important facts tend to refute this theory. The first is the earlier historical evidence of apple growing in Ulster and the second is the fact that the undertakers in the apple growing areas did not come from orchard areas in England. One thing is true however, the settlers in these areas found a tradition in apple growing and a suitable soil.

The development of the bramley industry in Ulster
The 1841 census shows that Ulster had become one of the most important apple growing Provinces in Ireland and the Counties of Armagh, Antrim and Tyrone in that order were the most important growing areas.

Towards the end of the 19th century much of the apple crop was used for making cider. Indeed cider was being made in a factory in Portadown at the opening of the present century. Many of the varieties growing at that time were also regarded good dessert type and many of the older people alive today recall the great apple markets in Portadown with carts lining both sides of the main street. At the same time there was a good export trade to England and Scotland. However the situation was soon to change rapidly. Cider making in Ulster became insignificant and the increased production in England of dessert varieties in greater demand by the consuming public presented a bleak future for Ulster Apple Growers. Thus in the 1880s the apple industry found itself once again in a difficult period but this was nothing new to a business that had suffered severe setbacks down the centuries. The pattern in apple growing had been a series of ups and downs and a period of depression was now regarded by the grower as a hazard which had to be faced and overcome.

The introduction of bramley's seedling
The introduction of the variety Bramley's Seedling saved the situation and gave a new and lasting impetus to the apple industry.

This variety is of such tremendous importance to the apple economy in Ulster that it is worth taking a closer look at its introduction and rise in popularity to become the finest of all culinary apples.

This apple was raised at Southwell, Nottinghamshire by a Mr Bramley and an account says that he 'planted 2 apple pips in his garden. Both grew into trees side by side, both bore fruit, one was worthless, the other was a valuable apple'. The valuable one was introduced by a Mr Merryweather in 1876 and named Bramley's Seedling.

In 1884 a new publication called 'Garden Work' carried an account of the Apple Congress held that year at which Bramley's Seedling was exhibited. Regarding Bramley's Seedling the Committee observed 'Fruit large, flat, green, streaked red and very handsome; fresh tender, brisk and acid'. It was awarded a First class Certificate and the only other certificate awarded that year went to Grenadier. Thus a Bramley's Seedling/Grenadier partnership which started in 1883 has continued until the present day.

Commercial interest in bramley's seedling
By 1888 there was a regular run on Bramley's Seedling by apple growers in England. In that year Merryweather of Southwell and Ryder of Sale advertised a total of 70,000 trees and these were all bought by 18 January 1889.

At the same time Ulster growers were also very interested in Bramley's Seedling and recently while pursuing some of the personal diaries of the late C J Nicholson of Cranagill House, Loughgall, I came across some interesting information. In 1882 Mr Nicholson wrote to Mr Merryweather 'respecting Bramley's Seedling' and after reading the report of the Apple Congress in 1884 Mr Nicholson purchased 60 scions of Bramley's Seedling in the spring of 1885. This may well be the start of Bramley's Seedling in Ulster. Interest spread rapidly. Some growers purchased trees already worked on Seedling rootstocks, other grafted Bramley scions on to home raised rootstocks while still others grafted scions on to existing old apple varieties.

Planting progress remained slow
For numerous reasons progress with planting remained slow. Farm prices had been on a downward trend from the 1870s until 1896. Success with apple growing depended upon the peaceful occupation of the holding over a long period but this was not possible during a period of frequent and numerous tenant evictions. Tenants who were compelled to plant apple trees by the landlords were subjected to an additional charge per acre on account of the orchards. The usual additional charge was 2s 6d per acre and in order to get value for money tenants planted a high rate of trees per acre - there are many instances of 300-400 trees per acre. This led to serious management problems later on.

Equable conditions for apple growing were not established until after the passage of the series of Land Acts between 1870 and 1903.

A period of accelerating planting
From 1903 onwards tenants became owners with the necessary security of tenure and orchard planting accelerated so that by 1921 some 7,000 acres had been planted. The large majority of this acreage was Bramley's Seedling. Apple prices were good over this period. In 1913 Bramley's were making from £5-£12 per barrel and in 1917 prices were 1s per lb at the foot of the tree.

The prosperous situation was not long lived and in 1920 apple prices were affected in the general agricultural decline. Pests and diseases became serious problems and in 1923 following an extremely wet summer apple scab became so serious that the trees suffered a severe shock and it became impossible to produce saleable apples. Anything that was produced in 1923 and 1924 was sold in bags for processing - mainly cider.

Early research and experiments into pest and disease control.
Soon after the setting up of the Northern Ireland Ministry of Agriculture in 1921 a programme of experiments was undertaken by Dr Muskett and the late John Hagan to try and find ways and means of controlling apple scab.

The results from Bordeaux Mixture were most encouraging and growers were able to maintain healthy foliage and clean fruit. The advent of Tar-oil in 1924 was another great boom for controlling greenfly and caterpillars since damage from these pests had reached serious proportions.

These important technical developments gave apple growers renewed hope for the future; a hope which did not reach reality due to the outbreak of the period of economic depression. The industry remained at low ebb until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 when the demand for apples outstripped supply, prices rose accordingly and the apple business was booming again.

After the Second World War the housewife who had been restricted in her choice of fruit was soon confronted with a wide range of foreign produce and the demand for culinary apples declined. However, growers had made good money during the war years and they were anxious to look for other ways of disposing of their apples. This led to the introduction of gas-storage capacity to give a longer marketing season and to the development of the processing industry to utilise fruit which fell below the standards demanded on the fresh fruit market.

The general rise in the standard of living over the past 20 years has resulted in a decline in demand for fresh cooking apples but at the same time there has been an increasing demand for processed apples.

Over the last 20 years the quantity of apples for processing has varied from 10,000 - 20,000 tons and taking the average yield for Northern Ireland at 32,500 tons one can see at once the importance of the processing industry.

At the present time there is an increasing emphasis on the processing of foodstuffs in general and it seems likely that this trend will continue to a point where the major part of the apple crop is marketed as processed fruit. I believe however, that the market for fresh apples will continue but on a smaller scale where only top quality fruit will achieve an economic return.

It is only comparatively recently that the importance of many virus diseases in apples has been appreciated. One of the reasons for the delay in this knowledge is that many of the tree fruit viruses are 'latent' having no obvious systems. Other viruses like chat-fruit do not appear until the tree reaches bearing.

Recent advances in research knowledge at Long Aston and East Malling Research Station have made it possible to raise apple trees free from all known viruses. By comparison of these trees with infected trees it is possible to measure the economic importance of viruses.

From the point of view of the Northern Ireland apple Industry these developments have taken place at an opportune time and the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland has taken steps to produce a supply of virus-tested young trees at the Horticultural Centre, Loughgall, to meet the immediate needs of the Industry. It is hoped that growers will avail themselves of this unique supply of virus-tested planting material.

Kieran Lavelle, Top Fruit Technologist, Horticulture and Crop Development Division, 1998