



THE APPLE HOUSES 7 



not yet got their regulation garden-work clothes, 

 nor do they look as alert as the ones who have 

 been here some months. They resemble, in some 

 respects, the men of Kitchener's New Army, whom 

 we have all lately been watching — untidy and 

 somewhat ungainly, but each week acquiring more 

 of the upright, active, military swing. 



As I watch the young women gathering apples 

 on this still autumn day, coming up the hill 

 bearing on their arms wooden Sussex "■ trugs," 

 all lined with soft wood wool to prevent their 

 load of fruit being bruised, I am more than ever 

 convinced that gardening is most essentially 

 suitable work for them. There is so much con- 

 nected with it that requires the dainty touch of 

 a woman, much that her inborn gentleness can help. 



Two long, low, dark and cool apple-rooms have 

 been excavated out of the chalk, and here on 

 wooden shelves the apples are carefully laid, 

 forming thus the richest treasure-houses of the 

 garden. Plenty of ventilation is provided, for 

 we have a good succession of keeping kinds, and 

 are able thus to reserve a supply for private 

 customers right through the winter months. 



A head student has charge of this Department, 

 and whenever a fresh variety is gathered, she 

 weighs the number of pounds with her set of scales, 

 and enters it in a book. This record forms a 

 valuable guide at the end of the season as to the 

 amount of fruit the garden yields, and tells us, too, 

 which kinds do best on this land. We have re- 

 ceived recently the great encouragement of having 

 some of the fruit grown here shown at the dinner 



