Fruit Growing in Worcestershire 31 



of extinction; but a number of gentlemen near Bromsgrove, interested in 

 the allotment scheme, thought something in that way could be done to 

 stem the tide of distress. Land was obtained and formed into allotments, 

 which were taken up and cultivated by the nail makers. The Worcester 

 County Council acquired a large piece of land and established small hold- 

 ings there, the tenants in due time becoming the sole owners of the 

 freehold. The two schemes were established and prospered, and a district 

 which was at one time on the brink of ruin has for long been prosperous. 



Strawberries are the main crop, and probably there are about 400 ac. 

 devoted, more or less, to that fruit. Raspberries and early Potatoes, and 

 other vegetables, are grown largely. Much of the produce is taken by 

 road into Birmingham, and anyone journeying on the Bristol road between 

 Birmingham and the Licky Hills, in the afternoon of almost any day in the 

 week except Sunday, will see carts and drays returning laden with manure 

 to Catshill. The soil of Catshill is not very good; it is either too sandy on 

 the one hand or too gravelly on the other, and in either case two weeds, 

 troublesome weeds, are sure to be too abundant couch grass and horse-tail 

 (Equisetum). But poor, difficult, and foul as is much of the land, the nail 

 makers extract a living from it, or supplement their trade earnings there- 

 from. 



Those who have not a conveyance of their own arrange with their more 

 fortunate neighbours to convey to market and sell their produce. 



Besides the usual method of growing Strawberries in rows, there are 

 many grown in beds about 3 ft. 6 in. wide, especially on the very sandy soil 

 which has the New Red Sandstone a few inches below. These beds contain 

 three rows of plants, in groups of three, forming a triangle, with a space 

 of about 15 in. between the plants. These beds are allowed to grow to a 

 mass, the plants and runners to produce as much fruit as possible until 

 exhausted, when they are destroyed and other beds take their place. 



Dodford is another district for Strawberries near Bromsgrove, and some 

 of the finest fruits sent into Birmingham are grown here. The soil is a 

 clayey loam and suits the Strawberry; but the original method which 

 obtains at Catshill is not practised here. The plants are grown in rows and 

 receive the treatment generally practised. 



Raspberries are not largely grown; indeed very few are grown, and 

 there is little to be said about them. 



Loganberries. The demand for this fruit is not yet great, and the 

 supply corresponds. A few are grown at Evesham and Pershore. These 

 are trained to lightly strained horizontal wires, the top wire being about 

 6 ft. from the ground higher rather than lower; and the rows are about 

 6 ft. apart when the Loganberries are kept together. But being a plant 

 of very free growth it pays to keep the rows a good distance apart, and 

 to have another crop between them. Mr. J. F. Hooper, Pershore, is one of 

 the largest growers in the district. This fruit is also very largely grown 

 by Mr. Paget-Norbury, at Malvern, and Mr. J. W. Best, of Suckley. Mr. 

 Norbury arranges his wires in a special way for the Loganberry. 



