32 Hints on Vegetable and Fruit Farming. 



nearly so long as apple- and pear-trees, and come into good 

 bearing at from six to seven years old, when planted upon 

 good, well-drained soil. They will thrive upon loams, clay- 

 loams, the lighter marls and clays, and should not be planted 

 deeply, as their roots do not go down far into the ground, but 

 run along the surface. Nor should they be put in a situation 

 much exposed to the wind, as the branches are brittle, and 

 break off easily when laden with fruit. 



Plum- and Damson-TKEES do not require much pruning. A 

 little tipping of strong leading shoots must be done for a few 

 years, and a little occasional judicious clearing out of the centre 

 in the case of standard trees. Bush trees must be tipped and 

 crossing shoots removed. For pruning standards, and indeed 

 for bushes in their higher branches, there is a capital cutting- 

 machine, in use on a few farms, made by a village black- 

 smith. As will be seen in the engraving (Fig. 3), there is a 



Fig. 3. — Pruning Machine. 



sharp oblique knife on one side, and on the other a kind of 

 hook, which has teeth or notches to grip the shoot or branch, 

 while the knife is pressed into it by the leverage of the long 

 handles. These cutters may be 2 feet or 4 feet long, or 

 any length, and it is wonderful what large boughs can be cut off 

 by them. For young trees and bushes no ladder is wanted if 

 this cutter is used, and it is most objectionable to set ladders 

 against young trees. For picking and pruning, a step-ladder 

 should be used when possible. 



Plums always sell well. This year they have made capital 

 prices. They are ready when other fruits are out of season and 

 when £he foreign season is over. For damsons there appears to be 

 a practically unlimited demand, at 8*. to 12^. per sieve. Also 

 Greengages, of which the best sorts are the early Gage, Reine 

 Chiude Hative ; a late Gage, Reine Claude de Barry. J^lecker's 

 Yellow Gage is also an excellent fruit and is always in demanti. 

 Although acres of them are planted in Fast Kent, they are more 

 fitted for the farm-garden or for snug sheltered spots. As they 

 are valuable fruit, to ensure full prices for them they should be 

 packed in small boxes in single layers, and set off with a little 



