408 



Fruit Cultivation in a Gravel Pit. 



[Aug.,. 



operations were thereupon commenced which continued over 

 most of the intervening years and have resulted in the planta- 

 tion of some 550 trees. These consisted of cordon, wall, bush, 

 pyramid and standard trees. 



Shelter at the top of the pit in the form of a long brick wall 

 and hedges already existed. The slopes were laid out in terraces 

 upon which, as well as around the top, broad walks exceeding half 

 a mile in length in all, with borders on either side, were con- 

 structed. The intervening slopes were covered with a thin layer 

 of cement and sand, upon which choice fruit trees have been 

 trained, and the walks connected with each other and with the 

 bottom by concrete steps. The accompanying illustrations show 

 the arrangements very clearly, but it was taken some years ago, 

 and the slopes have since become fully covered. Some trouble 

 was at first experienced from subsidence, but the effects of this 

 are very little seen now. In consequence of the depth of the pit 

 and the slope of the sides, neither sun nor rain is wasted, and 

 an ideal forcing atmosphere is produced, so much so that crops 

 are two or three weeks earlier than on the level ground above, 

 late frosts are almost unknown, and ideal, summer-like condi- 

 tions of climate are produced even in mid- winter. 



The long brick wall previously mentioned is on the western 

 side of the pit, and consequently has an eastern exposure. It 

 is clothed with well-trained Morello cherries, and a visit at the 

 middle of May showed them well set with fruit. Some two 

 yards from the edge of the pit a long row of cordon Cox's Orange 

 Pippins surround the west and north, and at this time gave 

 promise of a fair crop. Between these and the edge is the path, 

 and on the extreme edge is a trellis carrying the upper branches 

 of the Doyenne du Comice pears trained against the slope below. 

 These pears carried a very heavy crop of specimen fruit last 

 year, and it is curious to note that, although there is not a heavy 

 set below, the branches on the trellis have set fruit very thickly, 

 without artificial fertilisation of any sort. 



On the upper walk the slopes were almost entirely covered with 

 well-trained pears : Doyenne du Comice facing east and south- 

 east; 5 Louise Bonne of Jersey, which had again set well, 

 although they matured over 2,500 fruit last season, and a fev/ 

 Emile d'Heyst facing west; 4 peaches facing south-west; and 

 Morello cherries facing north. Bound the edge of this walk are 

 cordons of Cox's Orange Pippin apples and Louise Bonne of 

 Jersey pears, mostly well set. A good bed of lettuce occupied a 

 corner facing south-east, cabbage were finished, and cos lettuce 

 just coming on. 



