Merton Orchard Merton Orchard Project The owners are trying to collect together and plant as many of the remaining “Merton” or “John Innes” named fruit varieties developed by the John Innes Institution as possible. They are also linking in with the ecological aims of the adjoining Green Walk and providing wildlife resource and habitat. Plants prefixed “Merton” were developed here in the Borough. Work on the Orchard Project started January There are now more varieties together here in the borough than in any other location in the UK.
John Innes: a nineteenth century property and land dealer in the City of London. In the 1860’s he developed Merton Park, one of the first Garden Suburbs around Manor Farm. On his death in 1904 he bequeathed his fortune and estate to the improvement of horticulture by experiments and research. The result was the establishment of the John Innes Horticultural Research Institute, initially at his Merton Park farm in Wimbledon, but now located at UEA Norwich. He was also instrumental in founding Rutlish School. The orchard is located on a field corner left over when the railway line to Croydon was built. It was allotments during WW2 when they were “Digging for Victory” but became derelict afterwards.
Pest Control
Not all Roses….Drought
50 Merton Marvel cherry Dec 2012 back left Keepers 49 John Innes blackberry Jan 2013 fence Chris Bowers 48 Colney cherry Oct 2013 Brogdale Middle 47 Merton favourite cherry Jan 2013 Chris Bowers Right 46 Merton Reinette apple Oct 2013 Brogdale Mid 45 Mermat cherry Jan 2013 Chris Bowers Left 44 Summer Sun cherry Oct 2013 Brogdale Fence left 43 Merton Permain apple Oct 2013 Brogdale MidR 42 Merchant cherry Dec 2012 Keepers Nursery R 41 Merton Late cherry Dec 2012 Keepers R 40 Merton Star pear Oct 2013 Brogdale Mid 39 Merton Heart cherry Jan 2013 Chris Bowers L 38 Merton Prolific apple Oct 2013 Brogdale L 37 Merton Royal pear Oct 2013 Brogdale Mid 36 Merton Pippin apple Oct 2013 Brogdale M left 34 Pat cherry March 2013 Keepers Mid 32 Merpet cherry March 2013 Keepers Shed 30 Merton Gem plum Jan 2012 Keepers 29 Merton Crane Cherry Jan 2012 Keepers 28 Merton Pride Pear Jan 2012 Keepers pond 27 Merton Delight Apple Oct 2013 Brogdale 26 Chads favourite apple Oct 2013 Brogdale 25 Merton Worcester apple Oct 2012 Brogdale keeper 23 JI 3807 pear Oct 2012 Brogdale 22 Merton Beauty apple Oct 2012 Brogdale keeper 21 Merton Knave "Ace" apple Oct 2012 Brogdale 20 JI 4244 pear Oct 2012 Brogdale 19 JI 552 pear Oct 2012 Brogdale 18 Merton Russet apple Oct 2012 Brogdale 17 Merton Bigarreau cherry Feb 2012 R V Roger 16 Merton Charm apple Oct 2012 Brogdale keeper 15 Merton Joy apple Oct 2012 Brogdale 14 Merton Glory cherry April 2012 Orange Pippin 13 Gavin apple Oct 2012 Brogdale 12 Merton Thornless blackberry Feb 2012 Jparkers fence 4 Merton Premier cherry Feb 2012 R V Roger Current John Innes and Merton Varieties Held
Still to find and plant, some of these are known to exist Merla cherry JI 3884 pear Merton Reward cherry Merton Bounty cherry Merton Blue plum Merton Gage plum Inge cherry Hertford cherry Merton Early blackberry
Lost to history? Rhubarbs Merton Banner M. Broadleaf M. Foremost M. Yardstick Strawberries Merton Princess Merton Herald Merton Ruby Merton Dawn Harvester Hedley Blackcurrant Tomatoes Hertford Cross Ware Cross Puck JR 6 Antimold A Antimold B Blackcurrant Merton Cottage
The greatest legacy of JI Merton Is not the tree varieties themselves. They have fallen out of favour in the commercial market and not seen widespread adoption in the domestic one. The Merton Immune series of rootstocks (M.I ) were developed in the 1930’s, only one is still being used commercially; Merton 793. Together with Malling College Kent in 1952, the Malling- Merton (M.M.) series were developed. These were numbered M.M. 101 — 115. These rootstocks were developed to confer restricted growth, disease resistance and other characteristics & are being used all around the world, in their millions.