302 THE FRUIT GROWER' 8 GUIDE. 



turves or soil, and plant in the fruiting quarters as soon as well rooted, so as to secure a 

 good crop the following year. Market plants are commonly planted in March, but they 

 produce nothing the first year. Varieties grown are : Noble, Keen's Seedling, Alice 

 Maud, President, Sir Joseph Paxton, Elton Pine, Eleanor, and British Queen (where the 

 ground is suitable). (See selections, page 224.) The rows are usually 30 inches apart 

 and the plants 18 inches in them, though some are set 30 inches apart every way and 

 the ground horse-hoed both ways. 



Plants in small pots range in price from 10s. to 15s. per hundred ; those from the 

 ground, 2s. 6d. to 5s. ; 30 inches apart every way an acre requires 6,970 == 34 15s. 

 52 2s. 6d. for plants from small pots ; and 8 14s. 17 8s. for those from the ground. 

 If the plants are set 15 to 18 inches asunder in the rows, for every other to be taken out 

 after the first year of bearing, the cost of plants would be doubled. This is an important 

 consideration, and points the difference between garden and field culture. With the 

 plants from pots 30 inches between the rows, and 15 inches apart in the rows, so as to 

 get a full crop the first year, and calculating them at 6 per thousand delivered say 

 14,000 the cost for plants alone would be 84 per acre. Calculate the produce the first 

 year at half-pound per plant, and the price 4d. per pound, the return per acre is 1 16 6s. 4d. 

 Double the weight has been obtained from small plots in gardens, but the average is not 

 more than that stated. The price would be higher for first-class early produce in the 

 first year, while in the second season the land with half the number of plants would bear 

 their fullest crop say 6,970 pounds = 116 3s. 4d. This from small plots has been 

 doubled, and the net return given at the rate of 150 per acre, or taking the three 

 years (the duration of the plantation), 100 per annum clear of all expenses. The plants 

 in this case were raised on the premises, and the annual cost of production given at 50, 

 exclusive of rent, rates, and interest on capital. 



The field plantations give nothing the first year, in the second year a full crop, 

 averaging half-pound per plant = 3,485 pounds, which at 4d. per pound is 58 Is. 8d. per 

 acre ; cost of production and marketing, 20 ; profit, 38 Is. 8d. per acre, exclusive of 

 rent, rates, and interest. This, be it remembered, is far the best year, and the average 

 of three years would bring down the profit to 25 an acre, even when the seasons are 

 favourable. Much higher averages have been recorded, but they prove more or less 

 exceptional as influenced by seasons and prices. 



The chief factor in success is heavy manuring with the intelligent culture bestowed. 

 The first year's plants have the runners picked off by hand, and the land is kept free from 



