148 FRUIT FARMING. [Dec. 1894. 



II.— FRUIT FARMING. 



On more than one occasion during the past summer and 

 autumn public attention has been directed to statements 

 indicating a glut in the London markets of certain kinds of fruit, 

 principally of pears and plums, prices of which ruled low, 

 especially for fruit of common quality. It may be, however, open 

 to question whether any appreciable portion of the abundant 

 fruit crop of 1894 has been altogether wasted. A few damsons, 

 whose quality and appearance had been injured by the plague of 

 aphides early in the season, may have been left on the trees here 

 and there ; but even in the case of this extremely large crop the 

 main bulk was utilised in some way. Though the price realised 

 per lb. or per sieve was small, the quantity per tree, or per acre, 

 was great. 



Practical men not only hold that the fruit acreage in this 

 country is not excessive but that it may be extended, and that 

 fruit trees and fruit bushes may, with due regard to the 

 dominating conditions of soil, climate, and situation, and in 

 reasonable propinquity to populous places, still be planted with 

 good prospects of profit. It is essential, however, that more 

 care than is often forthcoming should be taken as to the details 

 of cultivation, picking, packing, and sale. It should be re- 

 membered when planting that it is very desirable to ensure a 

 regular succession of fruits. When fruit plantations are made, 

 there should be a due proportion of each kind of fruit tree, 

 plant, and bush suitable to the locality, in order that " all the 

 eggs may not be in one basket." As an example of the 

 necessity of this, it may be stated that the strawberry crop of 

 last season, which had promised so well in the early spring, 

 turned out a comparative failure owing to the severe frost of 

 the 21st of May, while gooseberries and red currants were 

 abundant. Raspberries were below the average in quantity, and 

 sold well. Apples also were cut up l.)y the late spring-frosts 

 so that the crop was very small. Pears, on the other hand, 

 yielded enormously, as the weather during their blossoming was 

 unusually mild and genial, and the blossoms were well set and 

 beyond danger by the date of the frost referred to when the 

 apples suffered. 



Not only must the kinds of fruit be diversified, but the best 

 varieties of each kind should be planted, selected for their 

 approved qualities and superiority, with due regard to the 

 circumstances of the locality. This applies particularly to 

 apples and pears, since the competition of America, Canada, 

 France, and Tasmania in the supply of these fruits is exceedingly 

 keen. 



