Apple Days at The Botanics.

The two day event at the John Hope Gateway to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh on the afternoons of 15th and 16th October gave 1000 visitors the opportunity to learn about apple growing at the Castle of Mey in Caithness and to sample thirteen varieties of apples supplied by the Royal Horticultural Society at Wisley. It included the chance to meet with Willie Duncan and get his assistance with apple identification and advice on fruit growing, the chance to sample apple juice products provided by Graham  Stoddart from Innerleithen and also to see what could be achieved locally with a small exhibit of quality apples grown by East Linton Horticultural Society members. The challenge of growing apples over a distance of 700 miles and to consider the best available local varieties was the theme of two brief talks by David Affleck based on a current project to identify the present apples grown at the Castle of Mey and contrast these with the best varieties listed for growing in Caithness at the Apple Congress held in Edinburgh in 1885. Members from the Caley played a major part in welcoming visitors and promoting the benefits of Society membership as well as maintaining the 200 year old heritage of the Caley’s interest in apple growing in Scotland.