634 Small Fruit Growing in Kent. [nov., 



acres were consequently grubbed; but since then the price 

 has paid expenses, and they have been moderately remunera- 

 tive. The red currant is almost always grown as a bush on 

 a "leg" or main stem, with four or five branches often 

 forking at a short distance into two. As the fruit buds are 

 formed close against the older wood, the pruning consists 

 in spur-pruning all the young shoots, and shortening the 

 leading shoot, leaving about one-third of its length. The 

 tendency is to grow red currants with longer boughs than 

 formerly, and thereby get more fruit. Red currants are 

 usually planted 4J ft. to 5 ft. apart, or perhaps a little wider 

 on very good soil. As with other bush fruits, the land 

 should be well manured before planting, and other crops 

 may be grown for one or two years between the young 

 currant bushes, if care is taken in cultivating and lifting the 

 crop. In order to encourage quick growth the plantation 

 should be frequently hoed. 



In pruning the bushes it is important to cut nearly up to 

 the buds to avoid leaving lifeless snags, which harbour the 

 maggots of the Currant Clearwing Fly. 



Nuts. — Nut plantations thrive well on the Kentish Rag 

 rock in the neighbourhood of Maidstone and Wrotham. 

 They are said to commence to be remunerative at about six 

 years old, to be at their best production from about the 

 fifteenth to fiftieth year, to yield on an average 7 cwts. or 

 8 cwts. per acre, worth about £30 per ton, and on suitable 

 soil to last sixty years and upwards. 



The approximate cost of planting and cultivation are stated 

 by one large grower, viz., Mr. George Smith, of Loddington, 

 near Maidstone, to be as follows : — 



Nuts, with Gooseberries or Currants. 

 Cost per Acre of Planting. 



' ■ ' * • - £ s. 4.1 



Ploughing and harrowing ... ... ... ... .. ... I o o 



Setting out land for planting ... ... ... ... ... ... 030 



Digging holes and planting (194 holes, 15 feet apart, 18 inches 

 square), taking out soil 6 inches deep, and loosening the subsoil 



another foot in depth ... ... ... ... ... ... o 15 o 



104 four-year-old Kentish cob nut trees at 20s. per 100 1 18 10 



Digging holes, and planting gooseberries or currants at 5 feet apart. 1 o o 

 1,548 gooseberries at 12s., currants at Ss. per 100, average, say, 



10s. per 100 ... ... ... ... ... 7 14 o 



Mulching nut trees with 4 loads dung with labour 140 



^13 14 i° 



