3 i z THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



Plums. Only the gage and large dessert plums grown under glass bring prices 

 likely to prove remunerative, at first-class shops or at the residences of the wealthy. 

 The fruit clashes with imported, but the home grown is much superior in size, colour, 

 bloom, and quality ; attractive boxes containing a dozen choice fruits selling from 

 Is. to 3s. each. The trees succeed admirably in wall-cases ; also in pots in light houses. 



Strawberries. Where shelves can be fixed without interfering with the light, 

 or not producing drip on the trees, strawberries in pots may be grown successfully 

 in wall-cases or cool houses, and good fruit, ripe a fortnight before that in the open 

 air, brings 2s. per pound, more or less, according to size and quality. La Grosse 

 Sucree, Noble, Sir Joseph Paxton, and Royal Sovereign are good varieties for the 

 purpose. British Queen usually commands good prices at first-class shops. 



FORCED FRUITS. 



The fruits usually forced for supplying the markets are figs, grapes, melons, 

 nectarines, peaches, pineapples, and strawberries. Apricots, cherries, and plums 

 are seldom forced, the process being considered uncertain, and the fruit not in 

 great request. Early fruit, however, is greatly prized for banquets, and brings good 

 prices. 



Apricots. When these are forced so that the fruit is ripe in May or June, and 

 the specimens are large and well coloured, they bring from 6s. to 12s. per dozen, 

 moderate examples realising only 3s. per dozen. The demand for this fruit is, how- 

 ever, limited, and it is only the fruiterers in a large way of business that are able to 

 dispose of it on terms satisfactory to the grower, who must consult the salesman before 

 speculating in forced-apricot culture. 



Cherries. English cherries are the finest in the world. Trees started at the new 

 year ripen the fruit towards the end of April or early in May. Early Rivers, Governor 

 Wood, and Black Tartarian are good varieties, either for trellises or in standard 

 form for pots. By the potted system the house is set at liberty from July to 

 December, as the cherry trees are better outdoors after the crop is gathered and the 

 growths ripening. The uses to which the house can be put compensates for the extra 

 labour the system entails as compared with planted-out or trellis trees. One pound 

 boxes of ripe cherries bring fancy prices in April, good fruit realising 2s. per pound 

 during May, but the prices soon drop to Is., or less when imported cherries, come to 

 hand. As very little forcing is necessary to have cherries ripe in May and early in 



