THE AGRICULTURE OF NORFOLK 81 
it is possible that the district might even become the most important area 
in England for glasshouse crop production. Consequently glasshouses 
are still in the course of erection. Another important glasshouse area is 
near Norwich, where a large number of houses may be found. 
The black currant crop is mainly in East Norfolk and the produce is 
known in all English markets, the East Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association 
having done much to increase the consumption of this fruit. In East 
Norfolk there are large acreages of apples, pears, plums, cherries, goose- 
berries, raspberries, loganberries, blackberries, vegetables and flowers. 
A notable feature in recent years has been the increase in the production 
of the Cox’s Orange Pippin dessert apple in the cultivation of which 
Mr. H. Goude, the Horticultural Superintendent of the County, has 
made a special study. The following figures are given in the Ministry of 
Agriculture’s recent return for the acreage of the main horticultural crops 
grown in Norfolk : 
Fune, 1934. 
Orchards : : : : . 10,059 acres. 
Strawberries. : : , soa oF bogey, 
Currants, gooseberries, etc. , mae ce meee 
Carrots . : . : : Ae win ico | 3h o ae 
Cabbages, broccoli, etc. . : TIO STON a 
Peas, beans, etc. : : : eS a5er Ts 
Brussels sprouts : ‘ - potiecagy 
There are no reliable figures relating to the area under glasshouses in 
Norfolk, but it is probably not less than 100 acres, entailing a capital 
outlay of not less than £400,000. The intensive production of vegetable 
and salad crops is also developing. 
PouLTRY KEEPING. 
Norfolk possesses over 2,000,000 head of poultry and has nearly 
doubled (181 per cent. increase) its poultry population during the past 
ten years—a rate of increase greater than that of any other county in the 
British Isles. 
Commercial egg production is the main feature of the poultry industry 
in the county. Most of the eggs produced are marketed in the London 
area. The main marketing channels are through large wholesale dis- 
tributing firms and the National Mark packing stations, a number of which 
are operating in every part of the country. In addition, every market 
town has its egg and chicken auctions. 
The main concentration of poultry in the county lies eastwards of the 
middle line, north to south of the county, from Wells, Fakenham, Dereham 
to Thetford. The chief commercial egg breed used in the county is the 
Rhode Island Red Single Comb, which also enters largely into most of 
the crossbred flocks. 
The table poultry industry is being developed in Norfolk. The Light 
F 
