86 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



a sieve 48 Ibs. It is, however, to be hoped that all fruit 

 will ultimately be sold by weight. This was approved by 

 the 1907 Fruit Conference, but the smaller buyers cling 

 to the old custom. 



CHAPTER XXII 

 WAYS AND MEANS 



BEGINNERS may want to know the probable cost of laying 

 out a plantation of Apples or Pears. In this case much 

 depends on the price of local labour, the condition of 

 the land, and whether the proprietor works at the job 

 himself. Moreover, it will be obvious that it is cheaper, 

 pro mta, to lay out ten acres than one. 



It is, however, essential that the planter should have 

 sufficient capital to last him for the first three years of 

 planting, for although the catch crops may bring in a 

 little ready money, a plantation of Apples or Pears will 

 not begin to pay until the fourth year if the trees are dwarfs, 

 and the fifth or sixth year if standards are planted. But 

 if a mixed plantation is decided on an earlier return is 

 secured. 



In an orchard composed of standard trees at 48 to the 

 acre, the cost of trees, planting, and securing the stems with 

 netting would be about 12, and for half-standards about 

 the same, for, although the smaller trees are cheaper, they 

 are generally planted closer together. 



In a plantation of dwarf bush trees no stakes are needed, 



