1879.] MARKET-GARDENING IN ESSEX. 463 



rule sell the most readily if they will do either for cooking or dessert purposes; 

 this applies particularly to Apples and Plums, and as they are usually the 

 most productive, are as a consequence most extensively planted. Some of the 

 most productive Apples are the Keswick and Manx Codlin, Lord Suffield, 

 Hawthornden, Wellington, Warner's King ("a good sauce apple"), Cellini 

 Pippin, Keinette du Canada, Lemon Pippin, Blenheim Orange, King of the 

 Pippins, Cellini, Red Quarrenden, Fearn's Pippin and Cox's Orange Pippin — 

 all of which I have lately seen carrying, for the year, good crops of fruit, 

 many of which are being fast sent into the markets. Of Pears the most prolific 

 this season are the Hazel, Williams' Bon Chretien, Crassane, Duchesse 

 D'Angouleme, and Beurre Ranee. Other varieties grown are Louis Bonne of 

 Jersey, Beurre Diel, Beurre Easter (this seldom produces good fruit on stan- 

 dards and are being fast weeded out), Chaumontel, Hacon's Incomparable, 

 Beurre d'Aremberg, and the Autumn Bergamot. Of Plums the most pro- 

 fitable to grow are the Victoria, Pond's Seedling, Mitchelson's Prince of 

 Wales, Early Rivers, Coe's Golden Drop, Green Gage, and Washington. Of 

 Cherries the Kentish, Morello, Bigarreau, May Duke, and Elton are most 

 commonly grown, and both these and Plums have borne a fair crop this season. 

 Filberts are not much grown in these districts, but would, I am convinced, 

 pay well, especially if they received the same high cultivation as they do in 

 Kent. Strawberries, when well grown, invariably pay well, any soil, providing 

 the subsoil is tolerably cool, appearing to suit them ; the grand secret being to 

 get a few varieties that succeed best on any particular soil, sticking to them, 

 and growing extensively. The most successful grower, who in fact makes a 

 speciality of it, grows but three varieties — Alice Maud, British Queen, and 

 Eleanor — and nothing could be better than these. Three miles from this 

 farm neither of the varieties succeed well, but Stirling Castle, President, and 

 Dr Hogg are good substitutes. The former will eventually be replaced by 

 Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury, which is found to be very productive and good 

 for the early supply. Sir J. Paxton sells well, but is of too luxuriant growth 

 to be profitable. The above mentioned grower devotes 30 acres to Straw- 

 berry culture, and during the season employs upwards of 100 pickers. 

 The best fruit are carefully packed in punnetts which hold about 1 lb. 

 weight, and these are tightly packed in shallow boxes, and being carefully 

 handled by the railway officials, &c, arrive at the markets in good condition. 

 Packed in this manner I have seen plenty of good fruit come up to the metro- 

 politan markets from Hampshire apparently not much the worse for the jour- 

 ney. The bloom is kept closely pinched off the young Strawberries the first 

 year, the second year they produce the earliest and finest fruit, and the 

 heaviest crop on their third and last year — being then ploughed up as soon 

 as the runners from them are fit for planting. 



It is a well-known fact that many gardeners start as nurserymen on their 

 own responsibility, often ending, I am sorry to say, in their being obliged to 

 return to their old occupation, seeing when too late the folly of giving up what 

 was perhaps a comfortable situation for an uncertain livelihood. This being 

 the case, it may not be thought presumptuous in me if I suggest to those who 

 are bent upon being " independent," the advisability of their turning their at- 

 tention to growing fruit and vegetables for market. What is necessary is a 

 fair amount of capital and a good practical knowledge of their profession, 

 without both of which they had better not attempt it. 



W. Iggulden. 



