152 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



I understand it was proposed to make the new Act retro- 

 spective for three years only ; but the tenant, supposing he had 

 planted four or five years ago and quitted his holding at the end of 

 the fourth or fifth year, would have received practically no return 

 from his fruit-trees, and it therefore seems to me that the Act 

 should be retrospective for a longer period, taking into con- 

 sideration the number of years during which the different 

 varieties of fruit-trees growing on the land will remain in profitable 

 bearing after the termination of the tenancy. The question of 

 compensation to market-gardeners, and also to fruit-growers, is 

 a most important and difficult one, and should be fully discussed 

 by all interested parties. 



We hear a great deal of what the Koyal Commission on Agri- 

 culture is going to do for the tenant-farmer ; but I fear, unless the 

 tenant-farmers look after themselves, they will obtain very little 

 help from that quarter ; and, although I do not say that fruit- 

 growing will be the salvation of the agriculturist throughout the 

 country, I do maintain that on very many farms, if a certain 

 proportion of the acreage were under fruit, it would be to the 

 advantage of both landlord and tenant. A few acres should be 

 planted to start with, and as experience in management is gained 

 the acreage may be steadily increased until the 5 -acre plantation 

 soon becomes 50 acres, and a good business is developed. Where 

 agriculturists have planted fruit, and the soil and situation are 

 favourable, we find that the plantations do increase in area, and 

 we may therefore conclude that the tenants are not losing money. 

 In the Evesham district, for example, the fruit-growing and 

 market-gardening industry is extending every year, and the 

 small allotment holders, instead of growing corn, are planting 

 their land with Asparagus or other vegetables and bush-fruit, 

 with one or perhaps two rows of Plum-trees or other standards 

 round the outside, according to the size of their holdings. 



Soil. — One of the first considerations before planting is 

 whether the soil which it is proposed to plant is suitable for the 

 growth of fruit. Most soils will grow fruit, a good strong deep 

 loam being preferable. Shallow soil on gravel or on chalk is the 

 least suitable, especially for standard or tree fruit, though 

 Strawbarries may do well in certain seasons. The same remark 

 applies also to sandy land, for this class of land feels the drought 

 in a very dry season, which is fatal to fruit trees and bushes. 



