144 



FRUIT FARMING 



about ;^i5 as the average produce per acre. It is a 

 matter worth noting that the price of Apples has 

 steadily increased since more attention has been paid 

 to their culture, the highest prices are realized for 

 clean fruit from young and vigorous trees, and the 

 improved sorts now available. These figures can be 

 doubled where Dwarf trees on Paradise stock are planted 

 1 2 -ft. apart. 



Pears would bulk rather more than Apples, when 

 the orchard trees gained size, as they frequently crop 

 very heavily, and from bushes on Quince double the 

 profits of orchard grown fruit can be secured. 



Plums generally sell well. In 1880 the Plum crop 

 was generally large, yet very good prices were realized ; 

 though large quantities were sent from abroad, the 

 importations had nearly come to an end before the 

 English crop was ripe. The average price per bushel 

 would be about 4/6 to 6/- nett, and the cultivation of 

 Plums with Damsons may give rather a heavier yearly 

 return, as they are more certain croppers, say /15 to 

 ;^20 per acre. 



Fancy Prices. — In our own experience about this 

 locality, some very heavy crops have been taken. 

 The following are rather startling examples: — In Black 

 Currants, near Rainham, the produce averaged a guinea 

 a rod, or £ito per acre. \Ve have oursehes grown a 

 similar crop. In the West of England 2\ acres 

 produced nine tons; 720-lb. of fruit have been gathered 

 from one prune Damson in the same locality. Apples 

 producing from 20 to 30 bushels each are not un- 

 common. The tdrei^oiiit.; figures relate to orchards and 

 plantations in full bearing. 



