17 



these thirteen acres ' greatly exceed those of an ordinary 

 English farm of thirteen hundred acres.' The last year's 

 crops were twenty-five tons of grapes (which are cut from 

 May till October, ranging in price at wholesale from one 

 dollar a pound to eighteen cents), eighty tons of tomatoes, 

 thirty tons of potatoes, six tons of peas, and two tons of 

 beans, to say nothing of other subsidiary crops. On seeing 

 such results one might imagine that all this must cost a 

 formidable amount of money ; but not so. The cost of Mr. 

 Hash ford's houses, most excellently well built, is only $2.34 

 per square yard (heating pipes not taken into account) ; and 

 all the work is done by thirty-six men only; three men to 

 each acre of greenhouses seems to be a Guernsey average. 

 A- for fuel, the consumption amounts to no more than one 

 thousand cart loads of coke and coal. Besides, one can see 

 in the Channel Isles all possible gradations, from the well- 

 constructed greenhouses just mentioned, to the simple shel- 

 ters made out of thin planks and glass, without artificial 

 heat, which cost only ten cents per square foot, and never- 

 theless allow of having the most surprising crops quite ready 

 for sale by the end of April. Altogether, the glass-house is 

 no more a luxury. It becomes the kitchen garden of the 

 market gardener." 



One of the most noticeable features of these islands is the 

 appearance of thrift everywhere discernible. Everything 

 speaks of ease and prosperity; paupers there are none. The 

 poor are rarely seen. Roadside, garden and house alike 

 betoken comfort and sufficiency. Not only are the outskirts 

 of the town tilled with substantial buildings, but the homes 

 of the farmers are solid granite structures, it may be with 

 cement floors instead of boards, the roofs thatched or tiled, 

 showing red against the dark, rich background of foliage, 

 but all comfortably, neatly furnished, the windows curtained 

 with cambric or lace, while outside they are bowered in 

 roses, jasmines or myrtles. There is a feeling of home, of 

 ownership, of pride in possession that strikes one at once; 

 and who that has once enjoyed the simple, hearty hospitality 

 of those kindly people will ever forget it? The loaf of cake 

 proffered by the good housewife with a half apology perhaps 

 for it not being as light as it ought to be, the "Jersey 



