Commercial Gardening 



tion attract moisture from surrounding cells; when a rapid thaw takes 

 place the released moisture hurrying back ruptures the walls of the cells. 

 This, it is explained, is why, when it is a cloudy morning, or when it rains 

 at sunrise, though there may have been a severe frost at night, little 

 damage is done, and therefore fruit growing on the side of a hill that is in 

 shadow until the sun has had time to warm the surrounding atmosphere is 

 most likely to suffer the least damage. High situations will be exposed to 

 winds. Against these the fruit trees can be protected by planting on the 

 outskirts shelters consisting of beeches planted close and kept clipped at 

 the sides so as to form a hedge, as is done round the bulb grounds in 

 Holland; or firs may be planted if the soil is suitable. These latter should 

 be planted in double rows and angled, thus forming a protecting belt. 



Facility for getting the produce to a market will be a factor exercising 

 considerable influence in determining the site. Where fruit only has to 

 be considered it is sufficient to be within reach of a railway station; if 

 on a good main line, so much the better, for fruit, being of greater value 

 in proportion to bulk than vegetables, and not being so perishable, if 

 properly gathered and sensibly packed, can be sent long distances. A 

 glance at the baskets in any market in the north of England, Scotland, or 

 Ireland will tell anyone able to read the marks on them that fruit is there 

 from Kent, Middlesex, and Surrey. When vegetables come to be con- 

 sidered, the questions of market and transit thereto must be looked into 

 thoroughly. (See Vol. IV.) 



What is perhaps the most difficult and most anxious part of starting 

 a garden yet remains to be dealt with, that is, settling the terms on which 

 the land is to be held. These will include (a) the rent to be paid, (6) the 

 conditions of the holding. If the freehold can be purchased, well and good; 

 but inasmuch as to do so will involve the possession of twice as much 

 capital as would be sufficient to start on a tenancy, it is taken for granted 

 that the smaller number can manage it. 



3. RENT, RATES, AND TAXES 



He who would hire land for market gardening or fruit growing must 

 expect to pay more rent than is the rate for farm land in the same district. 

 First, because he will require a smaller scope of land than a farmer, and 

 land in small parcels seems always to command a higher rent per acre than 

 when let in large blocks; and next, because of the greater liability which 

 recent legislation in the tenants' interest has cast upon the landlord. The 

 foregoing remarks do not apply to that large amount of land cultivated 

 by market gardeners which is in close proximity to larger centres of 

 population, and where the rent is governed by the commercial advantages 

 it enjoys in nearness to market and cheap manure. 



There is also the factor of competition among market gardeners and 

 fruit growers, which has its effect in forcing up rents. The craze for grow- 



