98 PROFITABLE FRUIT- GROWING. 



tion of hardy and prolific varieties. Foremost 

 amongst these stands the Victoria, with its large, 

 red, egg-shaped fruit. It is the Plum of Plums 

 for cottagers and small holders to plant. As an 

 indication of the extent of its cultivation, 200 tons 

 of fruit were sent from a small railway station in 

 North Notts last year, and sold at an average price 

 of 10 a ton, or an aggregate of 2.000 from one 

 district, as produced by a number of cultivators. 

 The year previous, which was a great Plum year, 

 400 tons were sent from the same station (Tuxford), 

 and realised an average price of 8, or a total of 

 3,200. It is not unusual for a healthy tree to 

 yield a hundredweight of good fruit, and this at 

 the low price last named, is equal to 77 per acre 

 with the trees 15 feet asunder, leaving a profit of 

 at least 50. The late Ven. Archdeacon Lea, of 

 Droitwich, who planted three acres of land with 

 fruit trees in 1865, for experiment, and a similar 

 extent in 1874, with the object of determining the 

 profits derivable from different kinds, found Plums 

 the most satisfactory of trees when the right sort? 

 were planted. His experiments with fifty-on" 

 varieties justified his recommending the Vic- 

 toria, Rivers' Prolific, Pershore, the Diamond, 

 and Pond's Seedling, as the most profitable for 

 cottagers. To this list may be added The Czar, 



