30 THE BOOK OF FRUIT BOTTLING 
as of ahome trade. In any case it should afford a better 
alternation in times of ‘ glut’ than that of allowing plums 
or other fruit fo rot on the trees because, with the extreme 
lowness of market prices, it will not pay to pluck them.” 
With regard to vegetables, and especially asparagus, 
Mr Pratt mentions on p. 141 the enormous increase of 
production, now covering an extent of between 3000 and 
ooo acres in the Evesham district ; he then continues: 
‘<The production could be extended over thousands of 
acres more if the surplus, after the ordinary markets had 
been supplied, were tinned, and either sold at home—in 
place of that coming in the same form from France and 
Germany—or else exported to our colonies or foreign 
countries.” 
The writer then shows that in the United States there 
are 20,000 fruit and vegetable canning factories, ‘‘ giving 
direct employment to 1,000,000 persons, and indirect em- 
ployment (in the way of making tins, printing labels, 
etc.) to 4,000,000 others.” ‘The acreage devoted to the 
production of these fruits and vegetables is 1,500,000 
acres, divided between 30,000 farms, representing in 
monetary value over £6,000,000, with an output of 
600,000,000 Cans in a season. 
Of course if we could introduce a big industry of 
that kind, in other places, as well as in the ‘ Vale of 
Evesham,” it would mean an enormous increase in the 
demand for labour, for which good wages could be paid, 
and would act as a most practical inducement to come 
‘“back to the land,” or better still, for boys and youths 
to grow up and stay on it. 
And it is no impossible chimera we are suggesting, 
but a thoroughly sound practical means of livelihood 
and prosperity. 
Apples and pears must be carefully and evenly peeled 
before bottling. They should be cut down the middle 
as already advised for peaches, etc., removing the cores. 
