19-21.] 



Prune -Grooving in Bedfordshire. 



823 



PRUNE-GROWING IN SOUTH-WEST 

 BEDFORDSHIRE. 



N. J. Wood, B.A., 

 Ministry of Agriculture. 



The prune-growing district in South-West Bedfordshire and 

 in North Buckinghamshire occupies a belt of land about 14 

 miles long and 2 miles broad stretching from Stanbridge and 

 Totternhoe in the east to Aylesbury and Wendover in the west. 

 There are some 2,000 acres of fruit in the whole district, and in 

 the smaller area in Bedfordshire and on the borders of the two 

 counties about 500 acres are under prunes. 



In the smaller area the soil is a fairly heavy clay, mixed with 

 which is a large percentage of lime. This soil appears to suit 

 the prune, and the need for lime is shown by the fact that in 

 one orchard where prunes were planted on clay no success was 

 obtained until the soil had been heavily limed, after which the 

 trees made excellent growth. Mam 7 growers apply lime, which is 

 conveniently obtained from the numerous lime-works near Dun- 

 stable. The under rock is almost pure limestone, which on the 

 Dunstable Downs often comes to the surface. 



Cultivation. — The prune orchards are all under grass and do 

 not come into full bearing until the trees are about 30 years old. 

 Most of the orchards were planted about 40 or 50 years ago, 

 and are therefore now in their prime; it is said that the trees 

 will continue bearing fruit until they are 100 years old. After 

 planting no cultivation of the soil takes place; it is found that 

 cultivation prevents fruiting, and once the tree is formed the 

 orchards are allowed to run to grass and are used as poultry 

 runs, or, later, as keep for cattle and pigs. Cow manure 

 appears to be very beneficial to the trees. 



In many of the smaller orchards the trees were planted un- 

 systematically and little attention was paid to them in their 

 early stages, so that they are now badly-shaped and weak- 

 bearing. Where plan ed systematically, however, it has been 

 found that the trees must be given plenty of room owing to 

 their spreading habit and the size they attain. Thirty feet 

 square is not too much if the trees are to have full advantage 

 of light and air. The weak spreading habit of the tree often 

 causes the branches to bend down to the ground with an abun- 

 dant yield of fruit. Some growers have permanent props for 

 the principal branches, and these undoubtedly prevent damage 

 to the fruit. 



