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153 
for oxaiiiplo, a lialf-standartl ])raiiiley's seedling Apple tree; in this 
plot : its head is now lifteen or sixteen feet in diameter, the centre 
being well open. Certainly this fine tree is about the best of this form, 
but the otliers follow it more or less closely, and are now profitable 
trees. 
Another feature in this plot worthy of special mention is the two rows 
of Parsley-leaved Blackberry. They are twenty feet long, six feet apart, 
and the plants are three feet apart in the rows. For the first two years 
they were left to grow wild, being pruned back to a few buds at the end 
of the second year. In the third year they made growth from twelve to 
fourteen feet long, which in the autumn was slightly shortened, and tied 
along — not up — the supports. Next autumn there was a full crop of ripe 
fruit. Last year most of the fruit, though late, ripened, and now again 
there is an abundant crop of the large black glossy fruit. Judging from 
the yield of these two rows, I may say that the annual yield of fruit of a 
row fifty feet long in full bearing is fully 1 cwt. 
The teaching consists of meetings for pruning demonstrations in May, 
September, and November, and for Strawberry and Gooseberry meetings 
when the fruit is ripe. At all the meetings much general information is 
imparted, questions are answered, and there is always a discussion of 
cultural points of interest. In addition to this I frequently meet parties 
or individuals from local centres, and give them special lessons. Enough 
fruit is collected and stored for winter lectures, a basket of specimens 
being about the best notes one can desire for a lecture. 
I have ample proof that good work is being done, and could quote 
many examples — the latest may suffice. Only a fortnight ago I took 
with me to a meeting fair examples of Lady Sudeley and Chelmsford 
Wonder Apples, Pond's Seedling, Emperor, and Kentish Bush Plum, 
telling my hearers of the excellence of Lady Sudeley as an early dessert 
Apple, and how it answers best as a half- standard, from its habit of 
fruiting near to and at the ends of the branches ; that the specimen of 
Chelmsford Wonder weighed 15 oz., and of its free fruiting under close 
pruning ; that the Pond's Seedling weighed 4 oz., and the trees 
were almost as vigorous and free-cropping as Victoria ; and of the special 
value as late Plums of the other two varieties, and what fine half- 
standards we had of them at Duffield. I believe everyone present took 
the names ; all looked as if they meant business. 
The Kingston Plot. 
Each of the plots has distinctive features, but it will suffice if I give 
a brief sketch of one of them, giving preference to that at Kingston as 
being the most important. 
This is intended primarily for the instruction of the students at 
the Midland Dairy Institute, to whom I give a lecture every w^eek. It 
is about half an acre in size, and is divided by paths into four squares, 
the whole being enclosed by a hedge of Myrobalan Plum. One square 
has pyramidal Apples ten feet apart, one variety to a row — the first row 
being a Codlin, the last a late variety, with intermediate ones between. 
There is a row of Strawberries between each two rows of Apples to remain 
till the Apples require the space. 
