74 



THE GAKDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



When our own growers prepare fruit for 

 market, they have to remember that not only 

 have they to compete with their neighbours or 

 fellow-countrymen in other counties, but they 

 have to contend with enormous supplies from 

 abroad. Supplies, too, that, in the case of 

 Apples, usually arrive in an excellent condition, 

 well packed, tastefully displayed, and of • uni- 

 form quality. Briefly, therefore, British growers 

 must not only possess a thorough knowledge of 

 their work, with all the qualities requisite to 

 success in a difficult business — they have not 

 only to contend with climatic peculiarities of an 

 exceptional character, heavy expenses and high 

 carriage rates, and to compete with home 

 growers, but they have to equip themselves for 

 a still fiercer conflict. On the other hand, there 

 is no danger of a falling off in the demand for 

 fruit, and the producer who is close to his own 

 markets ought to stand the best chance in the 

 struggle as compared with those who are many 

 hundreds, or even thousands, of miles away. 



Preliminaries — Business Methods — Economy. — 

 If we can form an accurate idea of the matters 

 in which our business rivals excel, and if we 

 can remove the most prominent defects in our 

 own methods, we are certainly advancing on 

 the road to success. As cultivators generally 

 British growers have nothing to fear. Their 

 skill is unquestioned, and their keenest rivals 

 freely admit their superiority, but they are 

 occasionally lacking in some other respects 

 which have a material bearing upon financial 

 results. A business man in these days who 

 expects to command a share of success must be 

 methodical in his work and economical in his 

 expenses; he must provide a good article at a 

 moderate price; and he must present this for 

 sale in a form that will attract buyers. Method 

 can be displayed both in the commencement 

 and the routine of Apple culture, and it all 

 means economy of the right kind, namely 

 avoidance of waste. It is on this basis that we 

 advocate economy in land, economy in labour, 

 and economy in materials. It does not mean a 

 reduction in the amount of labour, or the pay- 

 ments, but it does mean that waste of any kind 

 must not be tolerated. Economy is effected by 

 a well-considered system of planting. We should 

 endeavour to secure the utmost the soil will 

 produce without permanent injury. 



The true economy of labour may be summed 

 up as "efficiency". That is the employment of 

 skilled and well-directed labour sufficient to 

 accomplish the required work at the best time, 

 and under the most favourable circumstances. 



It applies to all the operations of Apple grow- 

 ing, planting, pruning, gathering, sorting, and 

 packing. Much is lost for want of knowledge 

 or carelessness in execution, and this is generally 

 the result of cheap labour = An employer who 

 has a long labour bill to meet every week may 

 well be excused for wishing to reduce it, but he 

 often errs by the substitution of lower rates. 

 It is better to find out the most intelligent men 

 or lads, and, if possible, teach them, and en- 

 courage them to work with their brains as well 

 as their muscles. Attentive, thoughtful men, 

 who take a true interest in their work, are 

 wanted to assist in the competition of the day, 

 and they should see that they have a common 

 interest with their employers. 



Essentials. — Beyond the requirements of good 

 soil, favourable aspect, and other conditions, 

 which have been fully described in the chapter 

 on Orchards and under the general culture of 

 Apples, there are several matters to which the 

 market grower must give his attention in 

 selecting a position. If the undertaking is on 

 a moderate scale, and it is intended to chiefly 

 depend upon local markets and home sale, the 

 district must have most careful consideration. 

 There are many country districts which are at 

 the present time inadequately supplied with 

 home-grown Apples, and there are others where 

 the local produce is ample to meet the demand. 

 This, in consequence, should be ascertained 

 carefully, as if a mistake is made the system of 

 marketing will have to be altered or failure 

 must result. When a good local market is 

 found, the proximity to a railway-station is of 

 little importance provided there are good roads. 

 With well-constructed carts, and due care in 



! packing, it is possible to convey such fruit as 

 Apples 12 to 15 miles direct to the market, 

 shopkeeper, or consumers with greater economy, 

 greater despatch, and greater safety than when 

 sending by rail. This obviously affords the 



. grower a better chance of selecting suitable 

 land at a moderate rent than if it be very near 



j a station or a town. For larger plantations, 

 where other markets will have to be utilized, 

 the distance from a station must be taken into 

 consideration, as much time is wasted and great 

 expense is incurred in carting large quantities 

 of fruit to the rail. But there is one point 

 here worth attention, namely, it is often prefer- 

 able in every way to cart produce a few miles 

 by road and put the consignment direct on a 

 main line, than to send them on a branch line 

 where either delay or transference of goods to 

 other trains is necessary on the way. 



