Commercial Fruit Growing 3 



s. d. 



Year. Interest at 5 per cent on 793 39 13 



Cultivation for the year 60 



Rent and taxes ... ... ... ... 7500 



Brought down 793 



967 13 



3rd Year. Interest at 5 per cent on 967 '. 48 7 



Cultivation 60 



Rent and taxes ... ... ... ... 75 



Pruning 15 D ~0 



Brought down 967 13 



H66 



On the third year, if the trees were of the right sorts and in the right place, 

 there would be, perhaps, fruit to the value of 4 to 5 per acre. 



If the spaces between the rows had been cropped, the same amount per 

 acre might have been secured in addition each year, although the cost of 

 cultivation would have been somewhat increased; but the point is that in 

 three years close on 40 an acre had been invested, and this without 

 allowing anything for equipment, establishment expenses or household ex- 

 penses. It would probably be the fifth or sixth year before sufficient 

 return could be expected to cover outgoings, and by that time the capital 

 invested would have been considerably added to. [w. G. L.] 



2. SITE FOR A FRUIT GARDEN 



Having secured capital, or arranged for its supply, whither shall the 

 intending grower direct his steps in order to secure a suitable site? He 

 will find certain districts where fruit growing seems more than a fashion, 

 almost a craze, and he may reflect that something especially suitable must 

 exist either in soil or climate, or both, to account for such aggregations of 

 capital and cultivators interested in one form of production, and he may feel 

 bound to follow the crowd. If he reflects further, however, he may come 

 to the conclusion that an instinct which investing human nature shares in 

 common with the monkey has quite as much likelihood of being the reason. 

 One successful man is sufficient to account for a host of imitators who 

 doubtless imagine his success due to some magic in the spot, and who prob- 

 ably themselves achieve success in so far as they are able to acquire 

 like skill and emulate his energy and forethought. 



There can be little doubt that fruit will thrive in many parts of the 

 kingdom where its cultivation has not yet been attempted for commercial 

 purposes. 



So far as soil is concerned, a few general directions must be observed. 

 It is necessary to avoid land liable to flood or that is water-logged, for such 

 land is inimical to fruit culture. 



Low-lying land, or land in the neighbourhood of marshes, should not 

 be chosen, because it is in such places that spring frosts do most damage. 



