Evening News, Sydney, NSW (20 December 1892)
Parramatta Police Court
At the Parramatta Police Court on Monday, Gustavus Stenburg, for obscene language, was fined 20s, or seven days. Charles Aiken, for furious riding, was fined 10s, with 12s 6d costs. A. E. Astridge, a lad, for trespassing on the orchard property of Edward Clay, was fined 5s, with 5s 6d costs, or three days.
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, Parramatta, NSW (9 January 1897)
GLENHAVEN
New Year Social — A social was held here on New Year's Night. There were about 30 present, and dancing was kept up till daybreak on the 2nd. Mr. Randle supplied the music, and Mr. C. Aiken was M.C. During an interval, a sumptuous mixture of soda biscuits, tea, and coffee, apples, and apricots was served and was at least a novel repast if not a satisfying one.
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, Parramatta, NSW (23 October 1897)
PENNANT HILLS
Mr. Martin has commenced a contract for 450 yards of white metal to be laid on the Pennant Hills Road near Mr. Edwards' property.
Mrs. George Maher trod on a black snake on Wednesday morning in the orchard and narrowly escaped being bitten by the reptile, which was promptly killed by Mr. Robert Maher.
Mr. Tunks is supervising a contract for 6,000 sleepers, which are being obtained in the bush near Mr. Purchase's property, to the order of the Railway Commissioners.
Aiken's Lane has been the scene of frequent social parties lately. The residents there have a continual knack of 'surprising' one another.
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, Parramatta, NSW (30 October 1897)
PENNANT HILLS
More social parties at Aiken's Lane. The most recent was on Friday night last week; there were three such events. Orchard life does not grow monotonous down that way.
The only progress made so far towards providing a goods siding at Pennant Hills has been to stock the soil to form the road to it.
Mr. E. J. Black went through to Camperdown sale yards on Tuesday with another string of horses from the North.
Apricots will be very light at Pennant Hills this year. "A good job," remarked one grower, "because we'll get a better price for what fruit there is, and have no rubbish to handle." There are many, however, who would be more content with last year's glut over again.
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, Parramatta, NSW (9 October 1909)
HOLIDAY MAKING
A merry party, including Messrs. D. D. Henderson, F. Linsly, T. Quirk, Aiken, and J. Scarborough, went on Saturday for a trip to Tuggerah. The weather interfered considerably with projected fishing operations, but it is needless to say that the outing was a very enjoyable one for all that.
The Rev. A. E. J. and Mrs. Ross went off on Monday to Narrabeen for two or three days. In their absence, the rector's roses, watered by recent rains, are looking lovely.
The Farmer and Settler, Sydney, NSW (9 January 1914)
THE CARRINGTON APPLE
History and Description of a Popular Dessert Fruit
By Herbert J. Rumsey
From just before Christmas to the middle of January, the Carrington apple has first place in N.S.W. markets for dessert purposes, unless (and here is the rub) the fruit merchants who supply the country trade have—as they have had for the last two years—a stock of American apples left on hand, which they must unload.
A few years ago, decent Carringtons would sell at fifteen to twenty shillings per case about Christmas time, while extra choice would easily fetch twelve shillings or more per half case. Even small stuff would pay well to pick and market. Today, however, the best Carringtons are quoted at seven to eight shillings; medium, three to four shillings per gin case, and small apples are unsaleable.
There are, unfortunately, too many small ones this year, as there has not been an inch of rain where the Carrington grows since the blossom came out. I have seen fine ripe stuff that had not sufficient rain to wash the spray mark off the fruit.
The Carrington is a purely local variety, suited only to the climate of Central Cumberland, where it originated. 'Smith's Soft Seedling,' as it was originally named, grew by the side of a creek down in 'Dixie,' as the Carlingford folk call it. Dixie Lane leads off the Pennant Hills Road at Carlingford, nearly opposite, but a little to the northward of, the wireless tower. The history of this lane itself is almost as old as the country, for in 1804 the Frenchman, Peron, spoke of driving over it in his carriage. It leads across to the side of Castle Hill. About a mile down the road, the land becomes poor and sandy, but right here is the home of the Carrington; the old orchard still has trees nearly forty years old, while parts of it have been replanted lately with more Carringtons. The original tree is there yet; or, rather, root suckers from it. Fruitgrowers who know the history of the tree say that the root suckers always make the
best trees, though they are a bit slower in coming into bearing. With the top wood, there has always been a tendency to sport. The old orchard shows three distinct types that appear to become persistent yet vary very considerably. First, there is the Red Carrington, showing a green fruit, which gradually assumes a beautiful red cheek, and sometime before it ripens, this color covers the whole fruit. This is one of the most solid colored of all apples. It is the variety that has always been selected by careful orchardists and nurserymen, and its productivity is always ensured by root growths. While it is a soft apple, it is harder and packs better than the other types.
The second type is the light streaked, a light green apple turning waxy yellow as it ripens, with striped shadings of pink and red, particularly on the sunny side. This apple is so soft when ripe that it will bruise with the finger while picking. The variety appears to be more acid than the others.
The third type is the red streaked, a very handsome apple, nearly as finely colored as the Red Carrington, but showing streaks of deeper red extending from stem to blossom through the self-coloring. In addition to these three distinct features of color, there seems to be a variation of shape. The true Red Carrington, as reproduced from the roots, is a flat-shaped apple with an occasional tendency to pyriform, while the other types have a varying tendency to a greater dimension from stem to blossom.
The Carrington has been and still is a money-making apple for coastal growers near city markets.
It is generally believed that this apple is better unpruned, but in my opinion, that is an error. In many seasons, the present one, for example, it would mean fewer apples, but it would be fewer unsaleable apples and more money-makers. I am inclined to think that pruning after the fruit has set, and thinning it out, would be the best treatment.
The Carrington is a very precocious bearer, especially on its own root, and there is certainly no reason why it should be worked on anything else, as it makes about the best stock that can be found; it is resistant to the American blight or woolly aphis, and a good rooter.
There is one habit common to every variety of Carrington: they all bear twins and triplets—apples with two, three, or even more blossom ends, to one stem.
The Carrington's season is such a short one that in the districts where it is the only apple grown, there is not much codling moth, as there is nothing to hatch but in the second brood.
There is another habit almost peculiar to this tree. In a wet autumn, it flowers and matures a second crop of apples, and I have seen this second crop grow to saleable size without apparently having any bad effect upon the spring crop in the following season. In one instance, at least, that I know of, a third crop was set in a mild winter, but the fruit only grew to about one and a half inches in diameter.
The sporting habit, mentioned with regard to the Carrington, though not common, is not unknown in the apple family, as the following example shows: In a history of Romsey Abbey, written about 1650, it is stated that on the top of the 'tower,' amongst the refuse and ruins, an apple tree grew which bore fruit of two distinct kinds, one colored a bright red, the other yellow-striped, and the fruits of this tree were sold in the town for one penny each as curiosities.
I have written this history and description of the Carrington apple with a view to assist in the good work of our pomological committee, and should esteem it a favor if any readers who can add to the facts, or amend them in any way, will communicate with me. There are several apples that originated in this locality that should have their history written, and would if those who are acquainted with the facts relating to them could be induced to communicate their knowledge to the editor of the Farmer and Settler.
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, Parramatta, NSW (14 November 1923)
NORTHERN BOUNDARY SETTLEMENT
The pleasant hillside along which the road to Carlingford now climbs was the scene of one of the first efforts at settlement in the newly-formed Colony of New South Wales.
The grants at this point lay on the most northerly fringe of settlement, hence the name Northern Boundary. The grants to the pioneer settlers—Simon Burn, John Brown, Wm. Moulds, and Wm. Parr—date from 17th August 1791.
The following persons also settled here in the years that followed: Joseph Carver, 19th March 1792; John Rowe, 1st April 1792; Wm. Whiting, 12th May 1792; George Barrington, November 1792; David Spencer, 50 acres, 28th October 1793; Thos. Arndell, 70 acres, 1st April 1794; Francis Oakes, 50 acres, 30th June 1823; Samuel Barsby, 30 acres, 1st March 1793; John Randall; John Martin.
It is not difficult to locate the grants at this centre of settlement. The Pennant Hills Road intersects the majority of them. Parr's grant faces Belmore Street; if Webb Street were continued northerly, it would run close to the western boundary.
Belmore Street also forms the southern boundary of Burn's grant, and the northern end of Macarthur Street lies on its western end. Moulds' grant faces Belmore Street, and if Butler Street were continued northerly, it would form the western boundary.
The Sutherland Estate occupies a portion of Brown's grant, while the north-eastern corner of Belmore Park is close to its western boundary. Bellevue Street forms its southern boundary. The land to the north of Belmore Park, and bounded on the west by Iron Street, was first occupied by Wm. Bradbury, concerning whom more will be said anon.
Although the grants are dated August 1791, it is probable that the settlers were in occupation somewhat earlier. For our earliest knowledge of the first settlers at Northern Boundary, we are indebted to Capt. Tench's work. Tench, who visited the farms in December 1791, makes the following remarks (pp. 149, 150):
"Visited the settlements to the northward of the rivulet. The nearest of them lies about a mile direct north of Mr. Clarke's house. Here are only the undermentioned five settlers: Thos. Brown, wife, and child, 60 acres; Wm. Bradbury, 30 acres; Wm. Moulds, 30 acres (these three work together); Simon Burn, and wife, hosier, 50 acres; -- Parr, and wife, merchant's clerk, 50 acres.
These settlers are placed on the same footing in every respect, which concerns their tenure and assistance to be granted, as those on Prospect Hill. Near them is water. Parr and Burn are men of great industry. They have both good houses, which they hired people to build for them. Parr told me that he had expended thirteen guineas on his land, which, nevertheless, he does not seem pleased with.
Of the three poor fellows who work in partnership, one (Bradbury) is run away. This man had been allowed to settle on a belief, from his own assurance, that his term of transportation was expired; but it was afterwards discovered that he was cast for life. Hereupon he grew desperate and declared he would rather perish at once than remain a convict. He disappeared a week ago and has never since been heard of.
Were I compelled to settle in New South Wales, I should fix my residence here, both from the appearance of the soil, and its proximity to Rose Hill. A corporal and two privates are encamped here to guard this settlement, as at Prospect."
On the same day, Tench visited the farm of Surgeon Arndell, who had already commenced operations at Northern Boundary, although the deed of grant did not issue until 1794.
His record states:
"Proceeded to the farm of Mr. Arndell, one of the assistant surgeons. This gentleman has six acres in cultivation as follows: rather more than four in maize, one in wheat, the remainder in oats and barley. The wheat looks tolerably good, rather thin, but of a good height, and the ear well filled. His farming servant guesses the produce will be twelve bushels, and I do not think he overrates it. The maize he guesses at thirty bushels, which, from appearances, it may yield, but not more; the oats and barley are not contemptible; this ground has been turned up but once, the aspect of it is nearly south, on a declivity of the river or arm of the sea, on which Rose Hill stands. It was cleared of wood about nine months ago, and sown this year for the first time."
After the defection of Bradbury, already referred to, it would appear that his co-workers, Brown and Moulds, abandoned their grants. Brown obtained a grant at Prospect, but the writer has lost trace of Moulds. Burn was murdered in October 1793, and Parr was the only one of the five who remained for any length of time, although he also had abandoned his farm before 1800. Burn's grant became the property of Mr. Wm. Sherwin, who later surrendered it, and Mr. Francis Oakes then obtained it.
Whiting, Carver, Rowe, and, at a later date, Francis Oakes, were successors to Bradbury, Brown, Moulds, and Burn, respectively. Carver's farm later passed into the hands of a man named A. McDonald. The history of these men is lost in obscurity.
In Marsden and Arndell’s report on the state of the settlements in 1798, they state that the only original settler left at Northern Boundary was John Martin. This man was not one of the original five, but John Randall and himself settled soon afterwards. May Villa School stands on Martin's grant, while Randall's grant lies west of it.
The history of Thos. Arndell and George Barrington, two of the early settlers at Northern Boundary, is fairly complete, as they were both well-known men.
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, Parramatta, NSW (20 September 1939)
"NIGHTMARE" ROAD
"It is a nightmare to all who use it," was the description of Aiken's Road, West Pennant Hills, given by Mrs. R. B. Kenway.
"Many were the tales of hairbreadth escapes, owing to its dangerous points," she declared, adding that there were "four blind corners," and that she "trusted something would be done quickly."
The shire engineer will report.
