FRUIT-GROWING ON A LARGE SCALE. 



155 



for market in our district are Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury, 

 which is an early variety coming in a few days in advance of the 

 main crop, and Sir Joseph Paxton, President, and Stirling 

 Castle for the main crop. It is a great advantage in picking 

 and marketing to have a certain proportion of the acreage 

 planted with the early varieties. We plant 2 feet 6 inches row 

 to row, and 18 inches apart in the row, which takes 11,000 

 plants per acre, allowing plenty of room for the horse-hoes to 

 work. The usual method is to plant with a dibble ; but I am 

 convinced, and have proved by experience, that if more time is 

 taken in planting, and a small 3-tine hand-fork used, the plants 

 will make a far better start, and the extra labour will be more 

 than repaid. Runners should be taken, if possible, from one- or 

 two-year-old plants, and if the weather is suitable, and the 

 ground is ready, they should be planted as soon ^s they are well 

 rooted. Many acres are planted in October and November if 

 the weather is open, and also in early spring, but on our land 

 we find planting in August or September answers best. Plants 

 cost from 10s. to 15s. per 1,000, and if half an acre is planted 

 and the runners are all left, the following summer there will be a 

 large stock of plants available. Assuming the plants are bought, 

 the cost of planting will be about £8 to £10 per acre, exclusive 

 of manure — that is, if the land is clean and in a good state of 

 cultivation. The land should be well rolled before planting. 



The first summer after planting it does not pay to mulch the 

 plants ; all runners should be kept carefully cut off, except, of 

 course, where plants may be required. The second summer, if 

 the plants have made any early runners, they should be cut 

 after the last hoeing and before the straw is put down. We use 

 about 10 to 15 cwt. of straw per acre for mulching ; barley or oat 

 straw is preferred, as these kinds will cover more ground than 

 wheat straw, weight for weight. If near a town, stable manure 

 is procurable, and is put on after hoeing in the spring ; the 

 manure is washed in and the straw acts as mulching. 



As soon as the last picking is over the runners are cut, and 

 the straw and runners are raked up together with narrow iron 

 rakes made on purpose, and taken to the yards for litter. The 

 runners are cut with an ordinary sickle ; an old short one is best. 

 In some seasons the straw may be raked up with a horse -rake, 

 two or three of the teeth being removed at intervals to leave 



