191 1.] Yield of a Small Mixed Orchard in Kent. 325 



The following note on the actual yield of a cherry orchard 

 in Kent has been supplied to the Board by Mr. C. H. Hooper : 



The following is a record of yields 



The Yield of a * . r r v r * * • 



« ,1 iv/r- , ^ -. . and prices of fruit for twenty-nine years 

 Small Mixed Orchard ^ J J 



in Kent. (1882 to 19 10) from a grass orchard 



chiefly planted with cherries at Sheld- 

 wich, near Faversham, Kent. From this orchard are sent 

 some of the best cherries that enter Covent Garden, and they 

 are, in addition, carefully sorted and packed. In the opinion 

 of the owner, the prices received represent the average prices 

 obtained for good quality fruit from this district. 



The area of the orchard is 4^ acres, on loam over clay over 

 chalk. The trees, which were mostly mature at starting, 

 consist of 97 cherries, 61 apples, 27 pears, 96 plums, 2 quinces, 

 2 walnuts, altogether 285 trees, or 67 trees per acre. In the 

 hedges surrounding the orchard there are about 50 damson 

 trees. 



The total net return from salesmen in Covent Garden in 

 twenty-nine years is ^1,762 6s. $d., an average of 

 £60 15s. 5<i. per annum, or ,£14 6s. per acre. The owner 

 says that, in addition, the value of fruit consumed by his 

 household has been about £y yearly, and he has received 

 about £3 yearly for the grazing of the orchard by sheep. 



Cherries. — The 97 cherry trees (several of which have been 

 regrafted during the period with the best market varieties) 

 have yielded 6,287^ half-bushels of 24 lb., selling for 

 ,£1,584 6s. $d., the average annual yield thus being 217 half- 

 bushels, realising ^54 12s. 8d., or 11s. 3d. per tree. The 

 yield has varied from 18 half-bushels, selling for ,£5 8s. 6d. in 

 1910, to 553 half-bushels, selling fox, ^112 8s. 3d. in 1901. 

 The price has varied from 2s. 6Jd. per half {i\d. per lb.) in 

 1909 to 8s. 6d. per half {<\\d. per lb.) in 1897, trie average 

 price for the period being 45. lod. per half, or 2\d. per lb. 



Apples. — The 61 apple trees have yielded, in twenty-four 

 years, 2,133 half-bushels, selling for ^211 17s. 6d., an 

 average of 89 halves, or £8 16s. 6d. per annum, or nearly 

 3s. per tree per annum. As in the case of cherries, the 

 variation in yield is very great. For instance, in 1885, the 

 yield was insignificant (only 3 half-bushels), while in 1902 

 it was 273 halves, selling for £36 ys. 6d. The price per half- 



