PLANTING 43 



convenience. We may refer to apples as an example where the 

 season beginning with Victoria and Beauty of Bath would carry on 

 without a break till the last Bramley's Seedling were sold at Easter. 



We should find it comparatively easy to write a list of varieties 

 and their order of succession if we thought we could do so with 

 advantage to our readers, but there is one consideration which, to 

 our minds, would make such a list of little value, apart from the fact 

 that they are so presented in nurserymen's lists ; and that is, that a 

 list could not be a reliable guide, because what may be best for one 

 district is not the best for another. For example, on some soils 

 and in some localities the Jargonelle pear is everything that can be 

 wished, while in others (perhaps the majority) it is unprofitable 

 and unsatisfactory. In some places Royal Sovereign strawberry 

 is " the one and only " ; in others, it gives pride of place to Pax- 

 ton. Some districts suit Rivers' Early plum, while others can 

 only do The Czar. So, with these very grave discrepancies and 

 differences, we could not with any advantage offer a selection, but 

 we can offer one piece of advice, viz. get to know first of all what 

 will do best in your district, and when you know that, get further 

 to know what are the best lines in the market, and arrange the closest 

 possible agreement between them. 



Neither does our personal experience encourage us to volunteer 

 a selection, this having often turned out most unsatisfactorily for us ; 

 for when we have been professionally consulted and given of our best 

 and specialized knowledge, we have often found that the viva voce 

 advice of a man on the spot, with nothing but an empiric and 

 superficial knowledge of the trade, with no conception of its inner 

 workings, is more promptly accepted and acted upon, but not often 

 with good results. In our opinion, those who are incapable of 

 making their selection are not sufficiently advanced to safely launch 

 out on their own account, and it would be time well and properly 

 spent if they offered their services for a year in exchange for 

 experience on a well-run fruit farm. 



We have already alluded to the need for great care in planting. 

 Holes of an ample size to accommodate the full spread of roots 

 must be opened, so that there shall be no cramping and doubling 

 back. These holes must be shallow, and if the soil has not been 

 deeply worked, a lower spit should be well dug and then trodden 



