764 



Gulval Fruit Plot. 



[Nov., 



While it must be admitted that the prices obtained for lots 

 sold by sample have not, so far, proved highly satisfactory, it 

 should be remembered that the system is new to the district, and 

 that purchasers are necessarily cautious with any new system 

 until it has been thoroughly tried and has passed the test. 



The first object of the change, namely, economy of space under 

 shelter, has been attained, and on a wet market day the advan- 

 tage thus offered to those whose packages are under cover, is 

 particularly noticeable. It is, moreover, generally conceded by 

 the purchaser that pot-fruit provided with withy covers travels 

 better, and with less risk of pilferage, than when packed in the 

 old way. 



Growers who have used the guarantee label under the new 

 system have loyally upheld the good traditions of the market, 

 and the Authorities have had practically no complaints from the 

 purchasers on the score of topping. This being so. there can be 

 little doubt that the Hereford Corporation are on sound lines in 

 their new undertaking, and if the market slogan of " Good Fruit, 

 Fairly and Honestly Packed and Correct to Weight " is generally 

 adopted throughout the district, there is every hope that this 

 enterprising project will meet with all the success it deserves. 



****** 



Situated on the hills at the back of Penzance there is a 

 small plot of land — just two acres in extent — which is known 

 Gulval as ^ e ( ^" 1 ^ va ^ Eruit Plot. It has been used 



Fruit Plot ky ^ ne Education Committee of the Corn- 

 wall County Council for experimental pur- 

 poses since 1898. In the first instance, one half was planted 

 with fruit and served to demonstrate that apples and pears 

 could be raised in the Penzance district of sufficiently good 

 quality to realise top prices in the London markets; the other 

 h^lf was used for asparagus and vegetable production on French 

 gardening lines. 



The growers in the district (Gulval, Marazion, etc.,) are, 

 however, not as interested in fruit growing as in the culture of 

 eprly potatoes and broccoli, which must be regarded as the 

 principal crops of the Penzance area. The Cornish grower, who 

 is unable to produce his potatoes as early as the grower in the 

 CMnnel Islands and Isles of Scilly, aims at raising a crop by 

 |Uo qppond week in May, and in normal years these are the 

 first home-grown potatoes in the market. Earliness is the main 

 f .fo,-. nnd only a few T varieties such as Duke of York, May 

 Queen, Sharpe's Express and Advance have proved of much 



