1 62 THE BOOK OF MARKET GARDENING 



as " stores," a succession of breeding sows being kept to 

 furnish stock. 



Where fruits are grown on an extensive scale it is an 

 advantage to keep some hives of bees, as, apart from any- 

 direct profit they may yield, they render important 

 assistance indirectly in promoting the fertilisation of 

 flowers, which often determines the setting of the fruits 

 and the consequent crop. 



Crop Returns, Values, and Profits 



The discussion of returns and profits has been avoided, 

 because statements on these matters are apt to mislead 

 the inexperienced, and raise expectations which are 

 rarely realised. There is a wide range between a return 

 of £lo per acre, which may barely pay expenses, and 

 £loo per acre, which should leave margin enough to 

 satisfy any one. The influences are many, varied, and 

 complicated which lead to the higher results. The skill 

 of the grower, the nature of the soil, the situation, the 

 crops grown, the character of the season, and the 

 methods of selling all have a bearing upon the total 

 values. With special crops like some high quality fruits, 

 in certain seasons, the maximum mentioned may even be 

 exceeded, also by exceptional crops like mushrooms, 

 while under glass the acreage returns are still more 

 largely increased. Crops of early Cabbages or Peas, 

 and particularly fine Celery or Potatoes, sometimes yield 

 the grower abundant returns, while at others the losses 

 may be heavy. Profits will vary in the same way, the 

 systems of working as well as the weather being impor- 

 tant as determining factors. Under the most favourable 

 conditions no form of land cultivation yields such satis- 

 factory results as well-conducted market gardening ; even 

 with average advantages it affords a substantial advance 

 upon ordinary agricultural methods. 



