146 FRUIT FARMING 



COST OF PLANTING AND MAINTENANCE. Much de- 

 pends here on the kind of plantation or orchard laid 

 down to fruit. In starting an orchard, there is only the 

 holeing, planting, and staking to be done, consequently 

 the cost can be readily calculated ; the price of trees 

 being included at 12 per acre for 48 trees, and in 

 proportion for a larger number ; but as previously 

 stated, it would pay to trench the land, or cultivate it 

 both ways by steam. If this were more attended to, 

 complaints would not be so general as to trees standing 

 still after a few years' satisfactory progress ; few 

 planters are aware how far the roots travel in search 

 of suitable food. 



The cost of preparing land for soft Bush Fruit or 

 Strawberry culture is about 20 per acre; or, if 

 trenched, ^10 more. 



The Capital required to carry on a Fruit Farm varies 

 from 10 to 22 per acre. 



Through the kindness of Mr. Cecil Hooper, who has 

 gone into ways and means thoroughly in the Swanley 

 district, I am enabled to give notes of cost, crop, etc., 

 which may be useful to planters. The following Table 

 gives concise information of approximate returns. The 

 life of a Cherry tree is longer than Apples or Pears 

 of the large growing kinds ; and the author considers 

 the life of dwarf Apples on Paradise stocks, Pears and 

 Plums, will be quite as long as Standards, as trees 

 in the Nurseries of 50 years old, Apples on Paradise 

 and Quince stocks, are still vigorous and productive. 



