8 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



manure at a low price to get rid of it in order to satisfy 

 the sanitary authorities, and thus the barges, instead of re- 

 turning empty, carried freights of manure. The arable 

 fields having been fertilised in the winter months, the 

 orchards came in for a share in the summer time. The 

 effect was magical, and growers were found saying, " Why 

 did we not think of this before ? " Not only were there 

 increased crops, but a marked superiority in quality. Higher 

 prices were obtained for the fruits, and an impetus was 

 given to the laying down of orchards, which of late years 

 Ws been further stimulated by the fact that the culture of 

 Hops frequently failed to yield a profit, and the heavily 

 manured hop-lands were found to be capable of growing 

 orchard trees for several years without manure. 



Again, the owners of large gardens, and even villa 

 residents, began to take more interest in their fruit supply, 

 recognising the superior quality of freshly-gathered fruit ; 

 and whereas in former days trees on free stocks produced 

 more leaves and wood than fruit, the dwarf trees on Paradise 

 and Quince stocks made it possible for planters to grow 

 many varieties in a small space and to get early returns. 



So much for the history of fruit culture. I find the 

 first catalogue issued by my firm is dated 1827. It was 

 printed in London, and I believe that my father worked 

 jointly with the late William Masters, nurseryman, of 

 Canterbury in getting out this catalogue, to save expense 

 in printing, which in those days was a serious matter. 



I may be excused in referring to a personal matter, but 

 as a boy of from ten to twelve years I used to enjoy assisting 

 in gathering the fruit from our orchard, founded by my 

 grandfather in 1796, and thus early obtained a practical in- 



