WASTED OPPORTUNITIES OF FRUIT-GROWING. 



963 



of preparing and planting these gardens is perhaps the most serious, and 

 many landowners might not feel themselves justified in going to such an 

 expense, although in the case of each garden it need not cost very much, 

 and the improvement to the estate would be so great in the aggregate as 

 to compensate the owner for the outlay, to say nothing of having on his 

 estate a more industrious, provident, and contented people. This source 

 failing, a law, I believe, exists by which landlords can borrow money at a 

 low rate of interest, with repayment extended over a long period of time, 

 for the improvement of their estates, such as draining, reclaiming land, 

 or the erection of necessary buildings. This would probably be available 

 for the provision of these gardens. Should this not be so, then we have 

 the County and District Councils to fall back upon. These bodies have 

 lately taken a practical interest in this question, and I believe in some 

 cases have not hesitated to charge the expenses of carrying out such 

 works on the rates of the districts affected. 



The second serious difficulty which would seem to interfere with the 

 successful working of such a scheme is the fact of the absence of the 

 technical knowledge necessary to carry out the work successfully amongst 

 our agricultural labourers and artisans. This, no doubt, would prove a 

 serious difficulty until the workman became interested and aware of the 

 value of such knowledge and the possession of such a garden. He would 

 not be long in availing himself of the information which in many counties 

 is now furnished by lecturers on Horticulture employed by our County 

 Councils. Indeed, the interest taken in the improved surroundings of the 

 homes of the people is now so great that no difficulty would be found in 

 bringing the knowledge to their doors of how to make the best of their 

 gardens. I suggest half an acre of land as being the extent of the 

 labourer's garden for the reason that I believe he and his family could 

 manage to extract from this quantity of land all it is capable of yielding 

 without any undue pressure of work : whereas if he had more it might 

 tax his strength too much, and thereby become a burden. 



I said that the garden should be enclosed by a fence or hedge ; it 

 should also have a tool-shed, large enough to shelter the workman in 

 case of rain, and also a seat or two where he can enjoy his pipe and 

 a chat with his family or friends. This enclosing of the garden gives 

 a sense of possession, privacy, and enjoyment, which is impossible in a 

 piece of land not so enclosed, similar to a colony of allotment gardens one 

 frequently comes across in the neighbourhood of towns. I can never look 

 at those very mixed and conglomerate plots of land without a spirit of 

 sadness coming over me at the apparent chaotic state of disorder and the 

 appearance of forlorn confusion they always possess. By hedging the 

 land and planting fruit-trees, this depressing aspect would be altered, 

 transforming the allotment garden into an adjunct of beauty and interest 

 to every town and village. 



In my opening remarks I pointed oat what Horticulture has been the 

 means of accomplishing in the higher, as well as in the commercial, aspects 

 of gardening. I submit that its power of ameliorating and improving 

 the position and home surroundings of our rural industrial population 

 is equally great. We possess every favourable condition for the full 

 development of such an industry to an enormous extent. We have some 



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