FRUIT CULTURE IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS 391 



richer in organic matter and less likely to get dry during the winter months. 

 Excellent crops are frequently grown in soil which is almost pure sand, and this 

 remains healthy longer than might be expected, especially if well watered in 

 the winter. 



Pot Culture. — The grower had to practise some other method, and tried 

 pot culture. Pots of 8 inches or 12 inches diameter were used. As a result he 

 has very materially benefited the output. Of course, fresh soil is used for potting 

 purposes, and this is well prepared during the previous season by frequent 

 turnings. But the Channel Island grower has not the broad acres of England 

 at his command for fresh loam, so he has to use largely the same soil over again 

 mixed with what fresh material he can obtain. He gives it a certain period of 

 rest in the open air, mixing with it well-decayed farmyard and artificial manures. 



Varieties. — As to the sorts of tomatoes grown or tried, it is really almost a 

 complete list of the numerous varieties introduced. And it is very doubtful 

 whether any sort is introduced without being soon after tried and tested by the 

 Channel Island grower. The old large red, selections from Chemin Rouge, Up-to- 

 Date, Stirling Castle, Sutton's A-i, Comet, Winter Beauty, Lawrenson s No. 3, 

 Holmes' Supreme, Bonnie Dundee, Sarnian, Lister's Prolific, Jersey Industry, &c. ; in 

 fact a very complete list, added to which, of course, local selections. But for very 

 early work the old large red meets with very general approval. We find that 

 carefully selected forms of this variety set more freely than most of the smooth 

 varieties. And this we insist on, in spite of the salesmen continually pointing 

 out that smooths are most in demand. The grower finds that a heavy crop of 

 selected old reds pays him better than a light crop of smooths, though the latter 

 may sell at a penny or two more per pound. This obtains early in the season, 

 when the supply is below the demand. But when the tables turn, and the 

 buyers are able to be choosers, then the Channel Island grower has to leave 

 his old friend the corrugated and take to the smooth, in one variety or the 

 other. 



When to Plant. — Another trouble the grower has yearly to deal with is 

 when to start his tomato crop. If the fires are started early, there may be a 

 long spell of wintry weather and little sunshine. This means hard firing, burn- 

 ing expensive coal for plants which grow and grow, and fill the house with 

 foliage, but very little fruit. In fact, we have heard of cases where plants 

 had to be rooted out, and a fresh start made with new plants. If, on 

 the other hand, he starts late, and it happens that the summer following 

 suits tomato culture in the open air, then he finds his prices so low that the 

 balance in his favour is almost nil. As it is impossible to tell what the coming 

 season will be, the grower is quite helpless, having no guidance afforded him by 

 past experience on this particular point. For instance, the year 1 90 1 so suited 

 open-air tomatoes that the prices fell to ruinous figures, and the late-started 

 houses suffered considerably by the abundance of the open-air crop ; whereas 

 the summer of 1902 was disastrous for the open-air fruits. Consequently the 

 prices were exceptionally good, and the growers who started late did well. 

 Where it is decided to start the tomato crop comparatively late, the grower is 

 able to use his house either for peas or beans, and secure a crop before planting 



