158 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



finest and best fruit into 1 lb. punnets, and later on, when the 

 price is lower, to gather into peck baskets, which are made with 

 a neck slightly smaller than the body, so that they do not 

 require covering when sent by rail, but pack one on another, and 

 the fruit can be thus sent in special trains to Manchester, 

 Liverpool, Birmingham, &c, in better condition than would be 

 expected. The punnets are put into baskets made to hold 

 a certain number, or into light boxes with handles at each end. 



The plants are set in the fields in straight rows, 32 inches 

 wide, the plants being 1G inches apart ; such a plantation lasts 

 from four to seven years in full bearing, according to the soil or 

 the seasons. The hot weather of 1886 and 1887, by encouraging- 

 red spider, would considerably weaken the plants, and make gaps 

 in the rows, and severe frosts after a wet time will sometimes kill 

 them. My informant states that the largest day's picking at Cray 

 was about 0,000 pecks, say of 12 lbs. each. The picking lasts from 

 four to six weeks, the pickers being paid by tally for each peck 

 picked, to be turned into cash as they require it. They are gene- 

 rally lodged on the farm in covered lodges erected for the purpose. 

 A marked improvement in the care for their welfare has been 

 manifested in late years, and although their condition is a happy 

 one in fine weather compared with their life in towns, it must 

 be very trying in wet seasons, as they have to be out by three o'clock 

 in the morning to get the first supplies for the early trains. 

 They are, however, generally cheerful and willing; the fact that 

 each one can earn a fair wage by diligence and activity stimulates 

 them to work with a will. New beds are planted in the end of 

 September, but if weather then prevents, planting is best deferred 

 till March, as the winter frosts draw them out of the ground if 

 not established. As soon as the crop is gathered the runners 

 are cut off with a bagging hook ; the land is then broken between 

 the rows with a horse hoe and cleared from weeds ; the straw 

 used in mulching is also removed. They are then moulded up 

 with a plough on each side to keep the crowns warm and dry in 

 mid- winter ; any excess of rain draining oft' in the furrows. 

 Mulching is done about the first week in June, clean barley straw 

 being used at the rate of about H tons per acre. Any manure 

 necessary would be put on when the runners are removed, to 

 stimulate the growth of stout crowns. Digging is objected to. 



This is the Kent plan. At Sandwich (Kent) the finest 



