Merton Orchard ProjectThe 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 2010. 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 Bowers48 Colney cherry Oct 2013 Brogdale Middle47 Merton favourite cherry Jan 2013 Chris Bowers Right46 Merton Reinette apple Oct 2013 Brogdale Mid 45 Mermat cherry Jan 2013 Chris Bowers Left 44 Summer Sun cherry Oct 2013 Brogdale Fence left43 Merton Permain apple Oct 2013 Brogdale MidR 42 Merchant cherry Dec 2012 Keepers Nursery R41 Merton Late cherry Dec 2012 Keepers R40 Merton Star pear Oct 2013 Brogdale Mid39 Merton Heart cherry Jan 2013 Chris Bowers L38 Merton Prolific apple Oct 2013 Brogdale L37 Merton Royal pear Oct 2013 Brogdale Mid36 Merton Pippin apple Oct 2013 Brogdale M left34 Pat cherry March 2013 Keepers Mid32 Merpet cherry March 2013 Keepers Shed30 Merton Gem plum Jan 2012 Keepers29 Merton Crane Cherry Jan 2012 Keepers

28 Merton Pride Pear Jan 2012 Keepers pond27 Merton Delight Apple Oct 2013 Brogdale26 Chads favourite apple Oct 2013 Brogdale 25 Merton Worcester apple Oct 2012 Brogdale keeper23 JI 3807 pear Oct 2012 Brogdale22 Merton Beauty apple Oct 2012 Brogdale keeper21 Merton Knave "Ace" apple Oct 2012 Brogdale20 JI 4244 pear Oct 2012 Brogdale19 JI 552 pear Oct 2012 Brogdale18 Merton Russet apple Oct 2012 Brogdale17 Merton Bigarreau cherry Feb 2012 R V Roger16 Merton Charm apple Oct 2012 Brogdale keeper15 Merton Joy apple Oct 2012 Brogdale14 Merton Glory cherry April 2012 Orange Pippin 13 Gavin apple Oct 2012 Brogdale12 Merton Thornless blackberry Feb 2012 Jparkers fence4 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

TomatoesHertford CrossWare CrossPuckJR 6Antimold AAntimold B

BlackcurrantMerton Cottage

The greatest legacy of JI MertonIs 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. 778-793) 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.