MARKET GARDEN CULTIVATION DURING QUEEN VICTORIA'S REIGN. 401 



especially so in new plantations, of which there have recently 

 been so many. There are, however, cases where the possession 

 of good varieties of market fruit have caused some of our market 

 gardeners to raise their own stock, and occasionally to compete 

 with nurserymen. Foreign competition in certain fruits has, of 

 course, a considerable effect in determining the varieties produced 

 by the home grower. The public taste, too, is another matter of 

 consideration, especially in the introduction of new varieties. 

 The main points to be studied in a new market plantation are 

 (1) quantity or productiveness ; (2) quality and appearance ; 

 (3) time at which it can be marketed. 



Apples. — Here the market gardener of to-day is brought 

 face to face with the American producer. Consequently he must 

 grow either — 



(a) Early varieties to clear before the American crop arrives, 

 such as Keswick Codlin, Lord Suffield, Lord Grosvenor, 

 Devonshire Quarrenden, Yellow Ingestrie, Duchess' Favourite, 

 Pearmain, Duchess of Oldenburg, Ecklinville, &c. ; or 



(b) Middle season apples of such well-known and favourite 

 varieties that they are always saleable at good prices, despite all 

 competition, such as King of the Pippins, Blenheim Orange, 

 Cox's Orange, Ribston, &c. ; or 



(c) Late varieties, which can be kept till the bulk of the 

 American crop is over, such as Bramley's Seedling, Lane's 

 Prince Albert, Northern Greening, Wellington, &c. 



Pears. — Pears, like Apples, have greatly improved in variety, 

 though only a few are grown in abundance for market work. 

 Williams' Bon Chretien is amongst Pears what Blenheim Orange 

 is amongst Apples, and what Victoria is amongst Plums — 

 undoubted favourite. The Hessel is largely grown as a sure 

 cropper. Amongst other varieties I might mention Louise 

 Bonne of Jersey, Marie Louise, Pitmaston Duchess, Calabasse, 

 Fertility, Beurre Diel, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Seckle, Winter 

 Nelis, and Catillac as being chiefly grown. 



Plums have had many additions of late years, the chief 

 favourite being appropriately named Victoria. Rivers' Early 

 Prolific is a very valuable market Plum. Other varieties, such 

 as Orleans, Prince of Wales, Green Gages, The Czar, Monarch, 

 Diamond, Pond's Seedling, Gisborne's, Coe's Golden Drop, and 

 Pershore, are largely grown. Plums from France are over before 



