FOR PROFIT. 143 



prices run up to unusual figure, as in 1882 — 25/- per 

 bushel of 48-lb. The average yield is about 2 tons to 

 the acre, aud the price from 5/- to 8/- per 24-lb. 



Red Currants are occasionally most productive ; 

 the average crop is set at 2 tons to the acre, say _^2i 

 nett per acre. A four acre plot produced in one 

 instance nearly five tons to the acre ; but as they are 

 very susceptible to frost, and run off very freely in 

 drought, the former estimate should be considered. 



Strawberries are fully treated on in a previous 

 chapter ; occasionally they have been known to make 

 ^£150 per acre. 



Raspberries. — We have not been able to get any 

 details as to the average return per acre of these, but 

 the price varies from _^i3 per ton. In some cases 

 these are grown among other fruits, and therefore 

 an approximate return only can be obtained ; but in 

 a plantation entirely of Raspberries, ij tons per acre 

 would be fair average, and give a profit of ;^2o per 

 acre. 



Apples. — Where an orchard is composed entirely of 

 Apples, on grass, they rarely fail to produce a fair 

 return, and occasionally a fortune. Near Ashford, one 

 grower cleared ;^6oo nett from 20 acres, and at another 

 spot a grower sold his whole growth to a firm in the 

 Midlands at 3/6 per bushel, merely put on the rails 

 in the buyer's own baskets. In this case the crop was 

 6,000 bushels, being but a portion of the Fruit grown 

 on the farm. We have in Chapter VI. dealt with a 

 modern Apple plantation, and as the public taste is 

 leaning to Apples in all forms, they are likely to 

 remain a most sound investment. Authorities quote 



