HOME FRUIT MARKETS. 85 



to supply the deficiences of the first half of the year, when fruit is 

 scarce. 



Herefordshire, Devonshire, and Somersetshire, and other dis- 

 tricts capable of producing Cider and Perry of good quality, have a 

 peculiar advantage, in the possession of a branch of agricultural 

 industry, that may be made very remunerative. It is one the least 

 likely to be interfered with, by the fluctuations of ordinary trade, and 

 has therefore with proper care, only the seasons to contend with. 

 The present state of our legislature is most favourable to its exten- 

 sion, since there are no longer any restrictions on its produce by 

 taxation ; nor yet on its sale direct from the Orchards ; whilst as 

 regards foreign competition, there is no probability that the supply 

 for our home consumption can be seriously interfered with, for this, 

 if for no other reason, that beverages which only contain so slight 

 a proportion of alcohol, are readily susceptible of re-fermentation, 

 caused by the constant shaking, incident on conveyance from a 

 distance. 



Home Fruit Markets.— The authorities in the city of 

 Rouen, in the year 1884, established a fruit market. It would 

 greatly conduce to the improvement of Orchard culture, if the 

 Agricultural Societies in the special fruit districts, would take up the 

 subject, hold annual Exhibitions of fruit, and offer a schedule of 

 prizes. Agricultural meetings are almost always held conveniently 

 in the Autumn, and such exhibitions of fruit could scarcely fail to 

 prove attractive, and they would certainly spread a knowledge, 

 which would lead to the growth of the superior varieties of fruit. 



The theory and practice of Horticulture and Fruit Growing, 

 might also be introduced judiciously, with great advantage, as a 

 science subject, in our rural Elementary Schools, as was most 

 successfully done some years since by the late Professor Henslow, 

 in his village school in Cambridgeshire. In these respects, English 

 schools are far behind those on the Continent. There, elementary 

 instruction in Horticulture, is aided as it should be, by manual work 

 in the garden ; and to instruction in the growth of vegetables, 

 herbs, and flowers, is added the practice of budding, grafting, and 

 pruning fruit trees. This excellent practice could not fail to pro- 

 duce a much more extended interest, in the production of the best 



