Page 101 of The Cottage at Brambleton Hall

‘Well, it does.’

‘It is a matter of a short walk, or to be more accurate, a short tractor ride. The harvest won’t be a problem.’

Nate was still looking at the list. ‘You’re right on that score; harvest won’t be a problem at all.’

He’d said it quite flippantly. Magnus frowned. ‘I beg your pardon?’

‘There won’t be any fruit.’

Hearing a chuckle, Magnus spun around and caught Sammy stifling a grin. ‘Why not?’ he asked.

Nate tapped the paper once with his finger. ‘Ashmead’s Kernel.’

‘Yes.’

‘That’s a triploid.’

Magnus narrowed his eyes – where was Nate going with this. ‘And?’

‘And it’s got three sets of chromosomes,’ Nate said, as if that ought to be obvious. ‘Which means it can’t pollinate anything.’

‘I’m sorry – three what?’ Sammy said.

‘Chromosomes,’ Nate said. ‘Most apple trees have two sets. Diploids. These ones have three. Sounds impressive. It isn’t.’

Magnus folded his hands behind his back. ‘There will be thirty trees,’ he said. ‘I don’t see why they cannot pollinate amongst themselves.’

‘Well, they can’t.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because they’re effectively sterile.’

Magnus stared at him. ‘That is a rather sweeping statement.’

‘It’s how they’re bred,’ Nate said. ‘Good fruit, unreliable pollen. You need diploids alongside them to do the work.’

Sammy let out a small laugh, which Magnus ignored.

‘So, they’re . . . decorative trees?’ she asked.

‘Which is why they will be perfect for this spot,’ said Magnus obstinately.

‘If you plant them like this,’ Nate said, handing the list back, ‘you’ll get blossom. Plenty of that. Might even get the odd apple. But you won’t get a crop worth doing anything with.’

Magnus took the paper, reading the list: Ashmead’s Kernel, Bramley’s Seedling, Belle de Boskoop, Gravenstein. All carefully selected by Sir, who’d been making cider for decades. All, apparently, useless on their own. The breeze shifted across the field, bringing with it the faint sweetness of cut grass from the orchard – harvest soon, the grass was kept short as a crew cut at this time of year.

‘And the pears?’ Magnus asked.

‘Same principle. They’ll need compatible pollinators. Otherwise, you’re planting a very expensive flower arrangement.’

Magnus spotted Sammy pressing her lips together, trying not to smile.

‘This was not made clear by Sir,’ he said. ‘He simply said . . .’ well, he thought recalling his employer’s words ‘leave it all to Nate’.

‘That’s because it’s obvious to him.’ Nate said.

Magnus was grateful Nate hadn’t added and to me. ‘Very well,’ he said. ‘We will amend things accordingly.’