CHAPTER XXX 



FRUIT CULTURE IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS 

 By a channel ISLAND GROWER 



Fruit culture in the Channel Islands has been of long and steady growth, 

 although at times its development has been startlingly rapid. In the remote 

 past the culture of apples for cider, largely for export, was an important item 

 with the Channel Island farmer. This has been steadily declining, cider 

 orchards in more recent times having been ruthlessly cut down, and the land 

 cleared for early potato culture. This for a time certainly held out better 

 prospects, but, in its turn, has changed for the worse. Many who rea;d of 

 the vast export of fruit, vegetables, and flowers from these islands are surprised 

 at its volume, and visitors who witness the long stream of carts and vans laden 

 with produce wending their way to the quays are astonished that such little 

 patches of land, well and carefully cultivated, can send so much to the mainland 

 markets. Nearly every Channel Islander is, more or less, born with a taste for 

 soil cultivation, and takes a most intelligent interest in the industry of the 

 islands. This has proved to be to their great advantage ; and we believe if a 

 like spirit existed in England and Ireland, and if such a spirit were encouraged, 

 England would be better supplied with home produce than she is at present, 

 and considerably less money by many millions would annually be paid for 

 foreign produce. 



THE FIG 



Figs have always been largely and well grown in the Channel Islands, in 

 the first instance, of course, in the open air, before we exported fruit. In those 

 days large trees were trained flat over wooden framework, varying in height 

 from 4 feet at the front to 6 feet at the back. Many of these trees are still 

 grown for supplying fruit in its natural season. When forcing came into 

 favour many of these large trees were covered with glass, and in some instances 

 pipes and boilers were employed. The increase of profit was of course very 

 great, but many of the trees so treated died after a few years. This no doubt 

 was largely caused by lack of water during the winter and early months of the 

 year. A few large trees which would now be valued were actually cut out 

 owing to prices falling for a time. 



Some old trees under glass, however, are still doing well. But the new 

 grower now generally grows pot plants, or small trees planted on the floor and 

 trained over the roof. In the latter case root-pruning is found to have excellent 

 effect in restricting excess of vigour. Generally speaking, the crop may be 



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