The Scarlet Ring

This is one of my favourite trees, here photographed in my car park at Plantsmans Corner and doing fine despite having been blown over by the wind twice, scalped by sheep in the neighboring field, and this last winter almost entirely ring barked by bunnies who stood on the two feet of snow to sink their teeth in above the tree guard. Oh dear! Still, they're dead now so there's a happy ending, and Molly has had several good dinners.

Many years ago, in my spare time I could be found planting orchards. Most that remain are now in their fullest maturity, or getting on rather as they'll be almost 40 years old. The trick in those days was to plant attractive apple varieties in a ring around the outside, mainly cider apples but todays image was also an often used variety of crab apple called "Veitches Scarlet" which served the same purpose.....to deter scrumping.
For those that don't know this term it refers to the childhood occupation of stealing apples from gardens and orchards. It would be pleasant to think kids today could carry on this harmless roguishness but they don't....and if they were to be threatened with either six lace-holes or buckshot up their backside the farmer or gardener would likely be locked up. I suppose this is the same state of affairs that has three times stopped me taking on young boys who wanted to help out at plantsmans corner in school holidays and weekends. The possibility of being seen as some kind of pervert....or priest even.

I rarely give in to attitudes of convention or fashion but the consequences of even the slightest hint of something abusive or over friendly with a minor and the gossip mongers would destroy you as quick as you could say "Kiss my Catholic arse"

The reason for planting the cider or crab apples around the outside of an orchard was that despite their attractive temptation, they taste like shite....very bitter or highly tart shite at that.

Which would serve the little buggers right for nicking them, and give 'em a good belly ache as well.....trust me, it is the voice of experience and many a dose of ring sting speaking. The scarlet ring was a regular and sorry late summer story.