Old Varieties

Celebrating and remembering old fruit and vegetable varieties

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18th Century Pear

perry_pear588We have had a request from Jamie who is trying to transcribe a letter of 1735, in which the writer seems to have given a variety of pear tree to the Duke of Atholl. He spells it as Lieuzeinsky, which may be Luzinsky.

If anybody is able to shed any light on this subject, please let us know so that we can assist Jamie with his transcription.

Jamie has kindly sent us the relevant part of the letter as someone may have a better interpretation.


The writer was chief of the Clan Donnachaidh, who spent a good 20 years in exile in France for treason for his support of the deposed Stuart dynasty. He had a known interest in gardens.

‘I have sent my Lady Jean a part of the first trails of my young standards of which the tree in the middle of the garden is one. I have wrapped them in paper that I may know if they be sweet as they are innocent like the person to be tempted. I am told the K of France has not a finer pair in his possession nor can he bestow them half so worthily & I have seen and can judge of both competitors for Birth and Beauty, without disparagement to the ?Lieuzenskys, I am to your Grace and family an eternal humble servant A ROBERTSON OF STROWAN’

Contact us using the comments section at the end of this post.

Herdwick Sheep

The Herdwick sheep is the native breed of the central and western Cumbrian Lake District.

Thought to be introduced by Norse-Irish settlers in the 10th and 11th Centuries, there are tales of the breed also being brought here on a shipwrecked Spanish Armada. However the ancient norse for sheep farm was “Herd-Vic”, making the first option the more plausible explanation.

A Herdiwck Sheep grazing in Rannerdale, Buttermere.
A Herdwck Sheep grazing in Rannerdale, Buttermere.

Herdwick sheep were originally bred for their tough wiry wool, that can create garments which will repel rain and outlive many softer fabrics but is sheer purgatory for the hands of the knitter.

The word “Herdwyck”, means sheep pasture and can be found in documents dating back to the 12th century.

Extremely hardy, they are ideally suited to life on the highest of the Lake District peaks and 
are managed in a traditional way, grazing the rough and rocky lakeland fells.

Left out on their high grazing through the lean winters. The mothers are brought down to the lowland fields in April for lambing. Traditionally the sheep were clipped in July & August but today the wool is virtually worthless and many will be seen shedding their wool naturally on the fellside as clipping becomes an uneconomical burden to the farmer.

In September the Ewes are returned to the upper fells. First year lambs or Gimmers are grazed with their mothers in their own “heaf” or area to instill a knowledge of their grazing territory.  A region which can be inaccessible and hostile, often covering a wide area over  miles of mountainous terrain.

Sheep could stray for miles, these strays were looked after by the farmer onto whose land they had strayed and returned to their respective owners each year at the local agricultural shows.

A young Herdwick grazing near Buttermere
A young Herdwick grazing near Buttermere

Herdwick lambs are a dark brown colour, turning to their shabby grey/white as they grow. They are slow growing sheep and have a lower lambing output compared with lowland breeds.

Meat from the Herdwick has a strong quality due to it’s slow growth and free range grazing.

The National Trust owns over 90 farms in the North West Lake District. Many have flocks of Herdwicks roaming their own heafs on the fells.

The Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association says:

The Herdwick’s hardiness and ability to graze over a wide area of fell is key to the maintenance of the Lake District landscape as we know it. By purchasing Herdwick products you are giving the farmers that manage this candidate World Heritage Site a sustainable future.

Find out more:

The Herdwick Sheep Breeder’s Association

The Ruskin Museum, Conniston, Cumbria.

British Coloured Sheep Breeder’s Association.

New Name for NCCPG

‘Plant Heritage’ is the new name for The National Council for Conservation of Plants and Gardens (NCCPG).

 

Plant Life stand at Gardener's World Live 2009
Plant Life stand at Gardener's World Live 2009

They provide standards and a support network for professionals and individuals who are keen to keep a wide variety of plants in cultivation under their correct names.

 

Plant Heritage strive to secure the future of garden plants which are at risk of vanishing from commercial outlets.  They may be unfashionable, difficult to grow or propagate and can become commercially unviable.

Members form a network of local groups around the UK, from Cornwall to Scotland and are encouraged to grow rare and unusual plants.

Members have access to talks, workshops and demonstrations and visit gardens, nurseries and National Plant Collections.

Plant Heritage are also looking for members to become holders of National collections for plants which are not currently on the national Collection scheme, such as Achillea, Peruvian Lilies and Lobelia, among others.

Plant Heritage is a much easier name to remember and sounds less formal than the original long winded title, so maybe the change will bring them into the 21st Century and the recognition they deserve.

Find out more about Plant Heritage.

Are Your Bluebells Native?

A few woodland areas in the UK will soon be carpeted in blue from the end of April to Mid May.

Bluebell wood at Muncaster Castle
Bluebell wood at Muncaster Castle

Our native British Bluebell is considered an endangered species and as such cannot be picked or uprooted from the wild.  Even the seed cannot be gathered without the consent of Natural England.




The Natural History Museum state:

“In recent years there has been growing concern that our native species is under threat by breeding with the cultivated bluebell. Hybridisation can alter a plant species’ genetic makeup and may result in a reduced ability to survive.

Until recently, this popular theory has been supported by little evidence, and the true status of bluebells in the UK and Ireland may be more complex.  Further study is needed to find out if the native bluebell is really under threat.”

You can help take part in this study by logging onto to Natural History Museum Website and recording your bluebell findings.

An article in the April issue of Country Living magazine focuses on a couple who have become two of the first people in England to be granted permission to gather bluebell seeds from their farm woodland in Kent.  Barry and Karin of Farnell Farm carefully collect, preserve and sell their bluebell seed so that others can enjoy the beauty of this beautiful flower.

Thanks to their hard work and that of others, it is now easier to raise your own native bluebells from seed.

Places to see Bluebell woods:

You may also be interested in:

BBC article and video
Offwell Woodland & Wildlife Trust. Feature and picture gallery.
Central Scotland Forest Trust. Atricle about bluebells under threat

To grow your own native British Bluebells, bulbs and seed can be obtained from the following suppliers;

Farnell Farm – Native Bluebell seeds for your garden or woodland. Ideal for cultivating large areas.
The Wild Flower Shop – Specialists in naive British plants.
Nicky’s Nursery – Native British Bluebell wild flower seeds.


Sweet Violets

From late February to May in shade at the edges of woodland or in hedgerows we can find clumps of sweet violet (viola odorata).

Viola Odorata Alba on the edge of North Cumbrian Woodland
Viola Odorata Alba on the edge of North Cumbrian Woodland

This is our native British plant, usually appearing with flowers of deep to pale lilac to the more rare white.

 

Leaves are heart shaped and bright green, forming a carpet of ground cover with delicate flowers nodding on short, hairy, pale green stems. The flower has a beautiful and unmistakable perfume, once prized by the Victorians and was the flower of Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love.

Historically, the Sweet Violet has a long tradition of uses, including many medicinal applications. Crushed sweet violets were often strewn on cottage and church floors to mask odours.

The Native Sweet Violet can easily be grown in our gardens, as long as it is given a shaded or semi shaded area with good soil, it can thrive and self seed quite happily.

Seed and plants can be obtained from specialist nurseries such as the Devon Violet Nursery. and Grove Nurseries in West Dorset, where the  National collection of Sweet Violets can be found.