FRUIT CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 427 



expenditure of time and money to produce. When it 

 is considered that the produce of the plantation in question 

 realised in the present year upwards of ^1690, and that 

 the plantation was vigorous and in full bearing, some idea 

 may be formed of the sacrifice of property involved." 



Without offering any opinion on the course here taken 

 by the tenant (as I know nothing of the case beyond what 

 is here stated), I think you will agree with me that such a 

 wasteful destruction as this is to be deplored. 



Under this head, it has often struck me that the 

 manner in which the charges on land planted with fruit 

 trees are levied is not equitable, and is calculated to 

 discourage rather than encourage planting for profit. A 

 few words will, I think, make this plain. A man plants 

 fruit trees, not looking for any quantity of fruit for four or 

 five years. During that period he receives nothing, or 

 next to nothing, in the shape of produce, although rent, 

 charges on land, and expenses of cultivation are going on 

 and have to be met. Then, when his crop brings him a 

 larger return than ordinary farm produce would bring, 

 there is probably a re-valuation of the holding and the 

 charges on the land are raised ! Now, it would seem only 

 fair if the charges on land are calculated according to the 

 value of the annual crop, the planter of fruit trees should 

 pay nothing the first four years. 



7. Statistics. I should not be acting honestly in this 

 matter if I were to withhold my opinion that most of the 

 statistics lately put forward in favour of fruit growing in 

 England are not worth the paper they are written on. 

 They are ample enough on the score of returns, but 

 meagre in the extreme when dealing with expenditure. 

 But I would also distinctly say that I make no charge of 

 wilful misrepresentation against the authors of them. I 

 know from experience how carelessly such statistics are 

 often made up, in answer to inquiries relating to the past, 

 and how eagerly and inconsiderately they are received 

 when they tend to strengthen the preconceived opinions of 



