1885.] PROFITABLE FRUIT CULTURE. 21 



and cider apples, a few of the sorts being inferior ; but care was 

 taken in picking and selection, and there was a profit of £15 an 

 acre. In botli cases grass was grown in the orcliards and paid the 

 rent. On the other hand, he said, there were Inmdreds of acres 

 of orchards in the county that barely paid the rent, but only because 

 the trees were mostly of inferior sorts, not fit for cidor or any other 

 purpose. 



Many more than the 188,000 acres of land under fruit in the 

 United Kingdom might be similarly employed if tenants had 

 proper security for their capital, and if varieties suitable to the 

 climate and soil of the district were selected. All sorts of small 

 apples must be discarded l)y those who grow for profit — such sorts 

 as Court of Wick, Golden Harvey, Old Golden Paisset, Downton 

 Pippin, Pearson's Plate, Sam Young, and many others. The fol- 

 lowing are a few of the varieties which succeed in most soils, and 

 should be extensively planted : Yorkshire Beauty, Keswick Codlin, 

 and Etchinville Seedling for early culinary apples ; Beauty of 

 Kent, Warner's King, Mere de M(''nage, Hambledou Deux Ans, 

 ])lenheim Orange, and Dumelow's Seedling for mid-season and late 

 culinary supply ; Devonshire Quarenden, Duchess of Oldenburgh, 

 and Worcester Pearmain for early dessert apples ; King of the 

 Pippins (also called Prince's Pippin), Seek-no-Purther, Cox's Orange 

 Pippin, Duke of Devonshire, and Devonshire Pearmain for mid- 

 season and late dessert apples ; and Cherry Pearmain, Cowarne Ped, 

 Forest Styre, and Kingston Black for cider. In an exposed 

 situation, plant rather thickly, say 18 feet to 20 feet apart; but 

 if you have a sheltered situation, with a good, deep, and generous 

 soil, give the trees plenty of room — 30 feet or more. Apple or 

 pear trees may be planted alternately with plums ; the plum tree is 

 a much shcrter-lived tree than the apple or pear, and comes into 

 bearing sooner, thus bringing in a return till the other trees get 

 fairly grown. A strong grower and a small grower may be placed 

 alternately each way. Yet another plan is to plant them in 

 hexagonal form instead of square ; that is, instead of the trees 

 being exactly opposite each other in adjoining rows, they are 

 midway, thus giving more room to each individual tree without 

 increasing the distance between or in the rows. In filling up old 

 orchards never plant in the old holes ; it is better to get the trees 

 planted irregularly than to do this. Deep digging is essential in 

 planting ; but the trees should not be put in too deeply. Tlie 

 want of care in picking and packing the fruit is a frequent cause 

 of loss. ]\Ir. Watkins prefers autumn planting, except in cold, wet 

 soils, where he would plant in spring, not later than ]\Iarch. 



