August 19 in Russia celebrate Apple Saved. On this day our ancestors started harvesting apples. Fruits were lit in churches and harvested for the winter.
Few people know, but three hundred years ago, this August day in the Imperial Summer Garden also began cleaning the apples growing behind the green trellis. In Peter’s time the garden was filled with various fruit trees, cherries, plums, pears grew here, but most of all there were apple trees. Already in 1710 fruit gardens began to be created in the Summer Garden. For this purpose, the Dutch garden master Jan Roosen is given 1000 apple and as many pear shanks for inoculations from Moscow gardens.
Fresh apples were served on the imperial table, apples were made from apples (apples in caramel), jam was boiled. Of the late-ripening varieties, the soaked apples were made, which were served on the table during the winter months.
One curious case is associated with the imperial apples. In 1715, the garden master Jan Roozen was accused of giving out royal apples “to different houses,” and he did not teach students how to garden things. Called for questioning, the gardener provided his notes, which marked who and how many apples he gave out. For example: “On August 6 he gave the queen 30, and the Grand Duke 6 apples.” “And the students who are given to him, he teaches in the winter, however not many of them are diligent, but they can not force me to force them,” Yauhen Roosen responded to the second charge. The charges were dismissed from the gardener.
Now in the Summer Garden only two decorative apple-trees grow, which remind us of the former orchard.
