LECT. viii QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 125 



A. Certainly they do, and the importations vary enormously 

 in consequence. There is no valid reason why we should not 

 send fruit to other countries especially in the form of jam 

 equal in value to that which they send to us, of such hardy 

 kinds as are grown in this country. 



Q. Then do you advise the growth of small fruits in preference 

 to large ? 



A. No, not in preference, but in addition to them. I mean 

 by the allusion to jam, that nowhere, so far I know, are small 

 fruits grown so well as in the United Kingdom, and as we have 

 the cheapest and best of sugar we ought to develop a large 

 export trade ; but we must grow apples. We have the market 

 to ourselves till November, and then again in spring. The early 

 and late varieties are, therefore, likely to meet with the best 

 sale ; that is, before the American cargoes arrive, and after they 

 are exhausted. Early autumn apples of home growth have never 

 been so plentiful as during the present year, never so fine, and 

 good samples never commanded better prices. 



Q. Which fruits are generally the best for strong soil ? 



A. Broadly speaking plums and black currants, though some 

 of the robust growing apples answer well in heavy land if it is 

 drained, such as Lord Grosvenor, summer ; Ecklinville, autumn ; 

 and Bramley's Seedling, spring. Strawberries also answer very 

 well if a little light soil can be placed round the roots when 

 planting to give them a quick start into growth. 



Q. About potatoes. Is it a good plan to cut off the tops after 

 the disease strikes them ? 



A. It does very little good when they are blackened ; but if 

 they are promptly pulled up standing on the ridges and grasping 

 the stems with the feet on the very first disease specks being 

 visible, then casting some more soil on the ridges, benefit may 

 result to the crop. 



Q. Is it a good plan to let potatoes remain on the ground for 

 several days to become green before storing ? 



A. It is not. It spoils them for use and does not protect 

 them from the disease. They should be carefully sorted and 

 stored as soon as they are perfectly dry, then the cooler they are 

 kept the better, provided they are safe from frost. If damp and 

 in thick heaps fermentation is liable to occur, then the disease 

 spreads through the mass with ruinous rapidity. 



Q. Instructions on the cultivation of most kinds of crops have 

 been given ; can a little more be said on growing two of the 

 kinds alluded to in the lecture tomatoes and mushrooms. 

 Can they be grown without the shelter of glass ? 



A. Tomato plants must be raised under glass in order to have 



