1921.] 



A Fruit Demonstration Station. 



645 



A FRUIT DEMONSTRATION STATION 

 IN EAST SUSSEX. 



A. H. Ho.^E, 

 Districi Inspector of the Ministry. 



The value of fruit demonstration stations as a part of the 

 horticultural education programme of County Councils is freely 

 acknowledged, and this country does not lack instances of 

 actual proof of this statement. 



It is important, when speaking of demonstration stations, 

 that the functions of such centres should not be confused with 

 those of research stations. Their main objectives should be 

 the practical demonstration of the best known cultural methods 

 coupled with the gathering of information as to the behaviour 

 of varieties, particularly the recognised commercial varieties, 

 under local conditions of soil and climate. The information 

 so obtained — and it is often obtainable with a minimum of 

 expense — will be of inestimable value, and as a means of 

 stimulating the production of home-grown fruit can hardly be 

 overrated. 



The establishment and outcome of one of the earlier fruit 

 demonstration stations in the county of East Sussex is de- 

 scribed below. In the year 1905 the education authority of the 

 county considered, for the first time, the question of establish- 

 ing fruit demonstration stations in those parts of the county 

 where it was considered fruit growing was capable of develop- 

 ment. The Horticultural Instructor, I\Ir. W. Goaring, was 

 asked to report as to the suitability of the various districts 

 for fruit growing and the possibility of establishing stations. 



One such district which came under consideration, and was 

 thought to be highly suitable for fruit growing, was that sur- 

 rounding Frant on the borders of Kent and East Sussex. 

 A piece of land was selected on the farm known as Lightlands, 

 which is part of the Eridge Castle Estate. This piece of land, 

 about one-quarter of an acre in extent, was part of a 7-acre 

 field, the soil of which was a stiff loam overlying clay. The 

 general situation was very favourable, the land sloping gradu- 

 ally to the south-west with belts of trees and undergrowth 

 forming natural windbreaks upon the north and east boundaries. 



As the result of negotiations with the estate agent, a remark- 

 able and interesting agreement was made between the landlord 

 and the County Council. Its main provisions were as follows :— 



