540 



Fruit Growing in Hungary. 



seedling farms and model orchards were established to raise 

 and propagate trees, and to provide seedlings and grafting 

 stems. These were then distributed free, or sold at low prices 

 to small farmers, clergymen, and schoolmasters all over the 

 country. In 1901, twenty-five such State nurseries had been 

 established, and they distributed in that year 297,507 grafting 

 stems and 1,429,500 seedlings. Besides improving the quality 

 and increasing the quantity of the fruit trees, these orchards 

 serve a useful purpose as schools of instruction for the young 

 men who work there and obtain a practical education in fruit 

 growing and marketing. 



A very important part in the general scheme is played by 

 the parochial orchards, under the control of the schoolmasters, 

 who supplement in their respective localities the work done at 

 the State nurseries. They receive free grants of trees, grafts 

 and seedlings from the State orchards, and prizes are distributed 

 among the schoolmasters by ;the Hungarian Mortgage Credit 

 Co-operative Society. 



These parochial orchards were established by Act of Parlia- 

 ment in 1894, along highways and roads ; and in 1897 a 

 set of model bye-laws were drawn up as a guide to the 

 various local authorities. In 1897 a survey was made of all 

 the main highways, and, after enquiry as to the best kind of 

 trees for each district, free grants of trees were made by the 

 State nurseries to be planted on these highways. At the present 

 time there are on the main highways 101,000 fruit trees, 94 

 per cent, of which are in good condition. Under the Act above 

 referred to, the duty of providing seedlings for planting on the 

 county and parish roads is thrown on the parish orchards, 

 but at present they have not been able to do much in this 

 direction. 



The railway companies co-operate in the work by carrying 

 fruit trees, grafts, and seedlings for distribution at about half 

 the ordinary rates. 



In order to improve the quality of the plums grown in the 

 country, the Department of Agriculture in 1900 bought 600,000 

 one-year-old Myrabolan and St. Julien plum seedlings from the 

 orchards at Orleans and Angers, and distributed them among 

 the State orchards. 



