FRUIT PLANTATIONS. 



time elapsing before substantial return is made by standard trees of tardy 

 bearing, the inadequacy of the supply of fruit of home growth for the demand 

 of British markets, and the depressed state of agriculture, have given an impetus to the 

 cultivation of fruit trees calculated to afford early and heavy crops. This implies the 

 growing of apples (cherries are only partially amenable), pears, and plums in low 

 standard, pyramid, and bush form, with the selection of early, free, and constant 

 bearing varieties. The estimates of profit to be derived from this system are extended 

 from the yield of a few trees to several acres, and made to show returns of 50 

 120 a year per acre. Major Hambling, of Dunstable, grew 50 bushels of apples on 

 10 poles of calcareous soil in 1893 = 800 bushels per acre, which at 2s. 6d. per 

 bushel = 100. A plantation of dwarf pear trees at ten years old gave a return of 

 1 20 per acre. An acre of Early Rivers' plum is credited with a return of 200 in 

 one year. Fruit crops of exceptional bulk and value are highly worthy of record as 

 showing what can be accomplished under specially favourable circumstances by the 

 exercise of high cultural skill, but they are very far from being representative of what 

 can be attained by the great majority of cultivators. 



In the plantation method of growing fruit low standards are employed instead of 

 tall ones as in orchards. This is an immense advantage in most situations through the 

 lessened danger of damage from wind. Moreover, the trees being of compact 

 growth and quick bearers, they can be planted closer, early and heavy yields being 

 obtained. The fruit is also of finer quality from superior cultivation, while the operations 

 of spraying, pruning, thinning, and gathering the crops are greatly facilitated. Bush 

 fruits are often grown between the lines of the large trees, for the utilisation of all the 

 ground, and afford good returns for a time, or until the permanent trees enlarge, the 

 bushes then ceasing to bear profitably. From the third year the plantation affords good 

 returns, both from the low standards and bushes ; the first commencing to bear profitably 

 in the fifth season after planting, and reach their period of best production from the 

 tenth to the fifteenth year. This period endures for a similar length of time, though there 



