FOR PROFIT. lOI 



the rows, and severe frosts after a wet time will 

 sometimes kill them. New fields are planted at the 

 end of September, but if dry weather then prevents, 

 planting- is best deferred till March, as the winter 

 frosts draw the roots out of the ground if not 

 established. It would pay growers to have a reserve 

 of some thousands of pot plants, to replace failures in 

 the first planting. 



Picking lasts from four to five weeks, the pickers 

 being paid by metal tally for each peck picked, to be 

 turned into cash, or goods at the local shop, as they 

 require it. The pickers are generally housed on the 

 farm in lodges erected for the purpose. A marked 

 improvement in the care for their welfare has been 

 manifested in late years, and, although their condition 

 is a happy one in fine weather, compared with their 

 crowded life in towns, it must be very trying in wet 

 seasons, as they have to be out by three o'clock in 

 the morning to secure the first supplies for the early 

 trains. They are, however, generally cheerful and 

 willing ; the fact that each one can earn a fair wage 

 by diligence and activity stimulates them to work with 

 a will. My informant states that the largest day's 

 picking at Cray was about 6,000 pecks, of 12 -lb. 

 each. At Swanley Station 80 tons was the largest 

 quantity forwarded in one day — i.e., 15,600 pecks. 



After treatment. — As soon as the crop is gathered, 

 the side runners are removed with a bagging hook ; 

 the straw used in mulching is also removed ; the land 

 is then broken up between the rows with a horse hoe 

 and cleared from weeds. Any manure necessary would 

 be put on when the runners are removed, to stimulate 

 the formation of stout crowns. Digging is objected to. 



