AGRICULTURE OF THE FYLDE 57 



particular varieties. Growers in this district during recent years have con- 

 centrated mainly on late December flowering varieties to meet the demands of 

 the flower trade during the Christmas period, but many acres are devoted to 

 earlier flowering varieties of chrysanthemums, which are marketed as cut 

 bloom from the end of July onwards. 



As a rule the chrysanthemums are cleared from the houses by the end of 

 January, and the land is again rapidly cultivated by mechanical cultivator 

 and prepared for a late spring lettuce crop which has been previously sown in 

 November. Winter lettuces are usually planted at 80,000 per acre at the end 

 of January, and are ready for marketing by the middle of March ; a number 

 of growers who do not grow chrysanthemums take two crops of lettuce off 

 the land before it is planted with tomatoes. The cultivation of lettuces during 

 the short days in winter demands great care and attention to cultural details, 

 as it is the most exacting crop in the rotation. A row of early flowering sweet 

 peas is often grown to the side of the pathway under the ridge of the aeroplane 

 houses. 



It will be appreciated that this intensive form of cultivation entails heavy 

 labour charges, estimated at £600 to £700 per glass acre. 



In certain sheltered localities cauliflowers are wintered in cool glass-houses, 

 and in the spring are planted out in situations which are enclosed by rows of 

 privet hedges, which provide protection against late spring frosts. By this 

 method large numbers of cauliflowers are cut in June and early July. 



Small apple orchards are found on most of the Fylde farms, and these supply 

 the needs of the farmer's own family. While there are no specialist growers 

 on a large scale in the Fylde, there are areas around Freckleton, Poulton-le- 

 Fylde, Great Eccleston and parts of the Pilling district which have proved 

 favourable for apple growing, and fairly extensive plantings of top fruit are 

 to be found in these localities. Generally, wind and late spring frosts are the 

 most important limiting factors in the fruit-growing districts In recent 

 years an effort has been made by the Lancashire Agricultural Education 

 Committee to introduce the cultivation of black-currants as a side-line on the 

 general farm, and demonstration areas of this crop have proved very successful. 



Education. 



Fylde farmers take full advantage of the facilities provided by the Lancashire 

 County Council for all forms of agricultural education. The central teaching 

 institution is at Hutton, about three miles from Preston. Courses of instruc- 

 tion are provided in dairying, poultry-keeping and horticulture, and there is a 

 farm of 300 acres attached, which serves as an experimental farm and to provide 

 milk for the Dairy School. The most recent development has been the 

 extension of the area under glass, which now covers half-an-acre, and is 

 designed to meet the growing needs of the glass-house industry for experimental 

 and instructional work. Residential accommodation is provided for 30 

 students, and considerable extensions in the residential and laboratory 

 accommodation are in progress. Instruction in agriculture is carried out in 

 association with the Harris Institute, Preston. During the winter session 

 there are usually about 60 students attending the Courses at Preston and Hutton. 



Members of the staff are available not only for lectures and classes during 

 the winter months, but to visit holdings for the purpose of giving advice on 



