84 ORCHARD PROSPECTS. 



pay closer attention to the growth of other products, which 

 will command a constant and lucrative market, in our own 

 populous and wealthy towns; such as Hops, where the soil is 

 suitable ; Poultry and Eggs ; Milk, Butter, and Cheese ; Fruit of 

 all kinds ; and such Vegetables as local circumstances may require, 

 or good judgment determine. Happy in these times are they, 

 who, living in districts especially adapted to the growth of hardy 

 fruits, can turn their efforts in this direction. Our Orchards ought 

 to supply economically and profitably, the markets of our cities and 

 towns with an abundance of Apples and Pears, and to be able to 

 meet successfully, moreover, an active competition from the 

 Continent of Europe, from America, and even from Australia. 

 It is true that the rent of land is dearer, and the fruit seasons much 

 more uncertain in England ; but these disadvantages are almost 

 balanced by the greater expense of labour — at least in America — our 

 greatest rival of late years ; by the additional expense of packing ; 

 the cost of carriage; the liability to injury; and by the still more 

 serious item of profit to the middlemen or importers. The 

 importation of fruit must always be more difficult than that of grain, 

 and the cost greater ; this cost, moreover, must increase as soon 

 as the commercial depression of the last few years passes away, and 

 ship freightage returns to its ordinary rates. There is every reason, 

 therefore, to believe that steady perseverance in Orchard culture 

 will meet with a successful reward. 



The occurrence of favourable seasons, affords the greatest 

 opportunity for remunerative Orchard management. At these 

 times, in addition to increased cellar storage for vintage fruit, and 

 the sale of fruit in the market, there is great scope for individual 

 energy in the preservation of table fruit. This may be done in a 

 variety of ways. Apples and Pears may simply be dried whole; as, 

 for example, the Herefordshire Beefing, the Norfolk Beefing, &c., &c.: 

 they may be pealed, covered, and the flesh dried in the shape of 

 "Apple Chips," "Apple Cuttings," or "Apple Rings," as the 

 Americans call them. They may be preserved in syrup in tins, or 

 better still, they may be converted into jelly. All these modes of 

 preparmg fruit for sale, do not require any great capital ; and if the 

 preparations are well made, they give a good profit, and keep well, 



