On Sun, 9 Oct 2005 15:02:35 +0100, Kay wrote:

In article , Brian
--- writes

"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
.. .

I saw a newspaper report yeaterday which claimed the UK is the only
country in the world to grow an apple variety (Bramley) specifically for
cooking. Does anyone know if this is true?

Janet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many reports and articles related to apple growing state that the UK is
the only country to actually grow apples specifically for cooking. I have
always doubted this but have seen it many times and repeated in Google
searches. Foreigners are a peculiar lot!!


I know Germany and Austria certainly don't I've asked a number of people
and they just look at me stupidly.You can't make a decent apple pie here.
An apple, just for cooking? Duh!

They grow special apples to make apple wine/scrumpy instead. Like
crab-apples but a bit bigger.

How many countries have bred apple varieties? I don't think it's that
many.

Assuming you mean "discovered" rather than actively crossing.
Just about every country that grows apples.
The UK, USA (Golden Delicious, Jonathan), Canada, Austria and Germany have
loads (in 1900 there were over 3000 varieties in Austria alone, now only
around 500), Australia (Granny Smith), New Zealand (Gala), Switzerland,
Belgium, China, Japan, the Netherlands ... just of the top of my head.

--
Tim C.