■ 94 FRUIT FARMING 



over the chalk. It had been dressed persistently with 

 superphosphate, with very bad results ; but when he 

 saw the character of the vegetation he recognised that 

 the soil was acid, and advised the use of basic phos- 

 phate. That was put down, and the result was an 

 entire change in the appearance of the place. 



Mr. BUNYARD, in reply, said he strongly recom- 

 mended that all new orchards should be raised on 

 arable land, excepting Cherries, for which he could 

 not advise that course. It was true they did well 

 under it, but if there came a severe frost — anything 

 like 24° below freezing — the trees would be completely 

 spoiled ; and not only that, but where the ground was 

 very well manured, the Cherry trees ran away altogether. 

 He was called in to advise at a place in Gloucester- 

 shire, where they had manured the trees highly, and 

 they made enormous growth, 6 feet in a year, but 

 after a hard frost the trees were completely spoiled. 

 To farm a good Cherry orchard, you must let it go on 

 very slowly. With regard to renovation of old orchards, 

 if you possessed good sorts, by all means go in for 

 it, but it was useless to take the trouble if the variety 

 of fruit was not good enough to pay for it. 



Cider and Perry are only made in Kent for home 

 consumption ; recently, however, as before named, a 

 Company at Swanley, Kent, liave started the industry ; 

 but in the Cider districts it appears that raw Cider 

 sells readily at from i/- to 1/4 per ijallon. It may 

 probably be worth while to use our better fruits, and 

 make a first-class Cider. Messrs. Gaymer of Attle- 

 borough, Norfolk, we believe, lia\e adopted this plan, 

 and their Ciiier is very much liked. There is no doubt 

 that the special Normandy Cider fruits, which are 



