212 SECTIONAL ADDRESSKS. 



skins a million and a half, and bacon and pork over 22 millions. 

 No one whose enthusiasm did not altogether outrun both his discretion 

 and knowledge would suggest that the home producer could supply the 

 whole or even the greater part of these commodities. But, on the other 

 hand, few of those who have knowledge of the skill and resources of 

 our intensive cultivators, and of the suitability of favoured parts of this 

 country for intensive cultivation, will doubt but that a modest proportion, 

 say, for example, one fifth, might be made at home. This on a post- 

 war basis would amount in value to over 20 million pounds, would 

 require the use of several hundred thousand acres of land and provide 

 employment for something like 100,000 men. The fact that Kent has 

 found it profitable to bring one-fifth of its total arable land under fruit 

 and other forms of intensive cultivation is significant and a further 

 indication that intensive cultivation offers real prospects to the skilful 

 and industrious husbandman. The present reduced acreage under fruit, 

 due partly to war conditions, but mainly to the grubbing of old orchards, 

 enhances the prospects of success. 



The estimated acreage under fruit in England and Wales is : — 



Acres 



Apples 170,000 



Pears 10,000 



Plums 17,000 



Cherries 10,000 



Strawberries 13,000 



Raspberries . . . . ... . 6,000 



Currants and Gooseberries ..... 22,000 



248,000 



exclusive of mixed orchards and plantations. 



These figures are, however, well-nigh useless as indicating the areas 

 devoted to the intensive cultivation of fruit for direct consumption. Of 

 the 170,000 acres of apples, cider fruit probably occupies not less than 

 100,000, and of this area much ground is cumbered with old and 

 neglected trees. Of the 10,000 acres in pears some 8,000 are devoted 

 to perry production, and hence lie outside our immediate preoccupation. 

 Having regard, however, to the reduction of acreage under fruit, to the 

 increasing consumption of fruit and jam, and to the success which has 

 attended intelligent planting in the past, it may be concluded that a 

 good many thousand acres of fruit might be planted in this country with 

 good prospects of success. 



Lastly, it remains to consider what results are likely to occur if 

 intensive cultivation comes to be more generally practised in this country. 

 T am indebted to one of our leading growers for an example of the 

 results which have attended the conversion of an ordinary farm into 

 an intensively cultivated holding. 



The farm — of 150 acres and nearly all arable — was taken over in 

 1881. At that date it found regular employment for three men and 

 a boy — with the usual extra help at harvest. The rate of wages paid 

 to the farm hand was 15s. a week. 



In 1883, two years after the farm had been taken over and converted 



