1908.] Competition in Apple Growing. 48^ 



less useful than straw dung. On the heavier clay, the water 

 supply is ample but the air supply is not. In this case, there- 

 fore, the lightening and opening-up effect of the fern stems is 

 an advantage. 



Conclusion. — Where bracken can be obtained its use for 

 litter is a matter deserving serious consideration. It suits 

 the animals, though not so well as straw. 



It contains three times as much nitrogen, and as much 

 phosphoric acid as straw, but less potash. Its manurial value 

 isabout fifty per cent, higher than that of straw. It possesses 

 greater power of absorbing ammonia and urine than an equal 

 Weight of straw, the fine leaves especially being effective. This 

 increased power is, however, only shown to its full extent 

 when the bracken is trodden in as completely as straw would 

 have been. 



Dung made from bracken may be expected to be somewhat 

 richer than dung made from straw. On the other hand, it 

 takes longer to decompose in the soil, the fibrous woody stems 

 being only very slowly attacked. It therefore opens up the 

 soil to a greater extent than straw-made dung would do, and is 

 for that reason likely to be more effective on a heavy clay than 

 on a light sandy soil. 



COMPETITION IN APPLE GROWING. 

 William E. Bear. 



The practice adopted by the majority of growers of selling 

 their fruit immediately it has been gathered has often 

 been criticised. They have been told that this practice 

 produces a glut in the markets in the autumn and thus brings 

 prices down to a low level, and they have been urged to store 

 the keeping varieties for the winter trade. By spreading their 

 sales over a longer period they have been assured they would 

 obtain better returns than they now receive. 



It is an undoubted fact that the plan of selling referred to 

 frequently causes a glut in the markets during the autumn, 

 and that prices fall in consequence. This is particularly the 

 case while windfalls are being sold, and it may perhaps be 

 taken for granted that the storing of apples which will keep 

 tor a month or more would be profitable during the windfall 

 season, a condition which would apply to nearly all cooking 



