Grow Your Own Magazine

They were one of the most important fruit nurseries in the UK, if not the world, etsablished in 1725, but alas no more, though their orchard survives locally as a community garden.

Clearing my late mothers house I found a copy of Rivers 1935 - 1936 Catalogue. Some samples:

Apples.
Bush and Pyramid, two years 3/-; three and four years, 4/- and 5/-; larger trees, 7/6 and 10/6 each.

Purple Seakale
Strong forcing crowns, 30/- 100; 4/- doz.
Strong planting crowns, 15/- 100; 2/- doz.

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Seem to remember something about them being fruit tree breeders and I think Rivers species are still highly rated.

Was ther not something about them on one of the Victorian Kitchen Garden episodes? Might be wrong, but deffinately as you say 'rings a bell'!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

There was Snadger,

apparently they had several thousand species of apple and pear trees when at their peak. The end of the walled gardens was the start of their downfall.

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There was quite a bit about the Rivers nursery in the Victorian Kitchen Garden programme. Apparently Rivers was such an expert on plant breeding that even Darwin was known to have asked his advice on such matters!

conference pears are a product of Messrs Rivers. They had their heyday in the VIctorian period ( give or take a bit) all the necterines,peaches, plums cherrries etc called early rivers are theirs ( obviously) They were in Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire (?).

I bet there would be one or two people interested in that Peter.

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
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Bit more info for you Peter

http://www.riversnurseryorchard.org.uk/

__________________
ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Just bought one of there prodege's...a Conference pear!

__________________
My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)