REPORT OF THE APPLE AND PEAR CONFERENCE. 



17 



WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17. 



The chair was taken at 1.30 p.m. by Dr. Hogg, F.L.S., 

 F.K.H.S., who remarked that for some time past they had been 

 treated to the observations of the theorist and doctrinaire as to 

 what was the best way of developing fruit culture in this country, 

 but they had now come to the practical part of the subject, 

 from which he had no doubt great good would result. He would 

 now call on the reader of the first paper. 



APPLES FOR PROFIT. 

 By Mr. George Buxyard, F.R.H.S., Maidstone. 



The commercial growth of apples for market is frequently 

 entered upon in a wrong manner, because many start on the 

 enterprise without sound information. Beginners fight shy of 

 the growers of trees for sale under the unfair notion that they 

 would recommend those kinds of which they held a stock ; they 

 then procure the "tip" from the salesmen in the various 

 markets, who, as far as they can (and in good faith), give them 

 the names of the kinds that sell well — fruits, so to speak, which 

 dispose of themselves by their names or appearance. Many of 

 the choicest apples produce but a small crop, or are so long in 

 coming to a state of profitable production, that planters get dis- 

 couraged ; others are recommended which are very slow growers, 

 or rarely make good orchard trees, and thus land is not fully 

 utilised. As the markets are supplied from a large area the 

 salesmen have but a general idea of the suitability of sorts to a 

 district, and hen?e much valuable time is lost. In the short time 

 at my disposal I propose to give a few hints as to the formation 

 of a profitable Apple orchard, or plantation, where the return 

 shall be speedy, and yet in the future for a century shall yield 

 a good result. The first operation is the procuring of suitable 

 land. In a district where little fruit is grown an idea can be 

 gained from the growth of the few fruit trees in the cottage 

 gardens, and perhaps the orchards near gentlemen's seats. If 

 the apples show a kindly and clean growth, with an absence of 

 lichens and canker, and if elm trees flourish, it will so far be 

 favourable. Exposure to prevailing winds is to be avoided, 

 either by shelter planting, or, better still, by taking advantage of 

 existing woods or hedges, and a slope to the south or west is to 

 be preferred ; but, in order to secure a permanent orchard, care 

 must be taken to get deeply cultivated, or rich deep soil, or a 



B 



