280 



are about 13 feet by 4 l / 4 (4 metres by i t / 4 ) and separated from 

 each other by a path about i foot (o m. 30) wide. They are about 

 9 inches (225 mm.) deep at the back and 7 inches (175 mm.) at 

 the front. 



After the manure is put into the frames it is trodden down and 

 covered with 3 or 4 inches (75 to 100 mm.) of good soil which 

 comes to within 4 or 5 inches (100 to 125 mm.) of the glass, so 

 as to prevent the plants from becoming too lanky. 



When the temperature has fallen to between 50 and 60 F (10 

 to 15 C) sowing and planting begin. 



It appears that the Paris gardeners are fairly repaid for their 

 work. 



It is stated that some of them get average gross returns of 

 about 500 per acre (12 625 frs. per hectare) out of which they 

 expect 60 per acre (1515 frs. per hectare) net profit, after deduc- 

 ting all expenses and the keep of their families. But it is uncer- 

 tain whether these figures relate to whole gardens or only to the 

 portions under glass. 



Mr. Idiens set apart about 5 acres (2 hectares) of land at Ben- 

 geworth near Evesham and in the month of March following the 

 visit to Paris, three quarters of an acre (about 3000 square me- 

 tres) were already turned into a French garden. 



By the spring of 1908 more than half the piece of land was 

 covered with frames and bell glasses. In September of the same 

 year a representative of the " Fruit Grower " (London) visited the 

 garden and published an illustrated report of his visit in that paper 

 of September 17. Four acres (1.6 hectares) were then under work 

 though not all under glass. There were 500 three-light frames and 

 between 9000 and 10 ooo bell-glasses. The whole was irrigated by 

 water pumped up from the Avon by a petrol-engine and distributed 

 by underground mains. 



Among the few French gardens established in England the A. 

 visited the Westfield garden started by Miss Kingcome. It is an 

 acre and a quarter (half a hectare) in extent. The soil is free- 

 working loam over clay and it slopes to the south. All the con- 

 ditions are most favourable, but there is no possible protection 

 against the south westerly gales prevailing on the South coast. 

 Another disadvantage is the necessity of carting all the manure 

 from Hastings at the cost of 7 s. 6 d. (9 francs) per ton de- 

 livered. 



The best directions^ for starting a French garden in England 

 are those given by Mr. Thomas Smith and published in the four 



