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ENGLISH ORCHARDS. 

 Part III, 



Although there has been much neglect of orchards and 

 fruit plantations in many parts of the country, as has been 

 shown in the earlier portion of this article, it is yet satisfac- 

 tory to observe that examples of fruit land cultivated in a 

 rational and intelligent manner are becoming less uncomrnxon, 

 and that there are signs that fruit growers are awakening to 

 the consciousness that their industr3r can never pay so long 

 as it is conducted upon the old lines, and that it will pay, in. 

 spite of the competition from foreign countries, if it is carried 

 out upon improved and intensive principles. 



In some cases apple and pear growers, w^ith whom this 

 article is mainly concerned, have been handicapped by their 

 succession to orchards and fruit-plantations in a deplorably 

 neglected condition, and the task of effecting an improvement 

 has promised to be of so difficult and tedious a character that 

 their efforts in this direction have been discouraged. Others 

 have introduced fresh sorts, but have failed to make 

 the trees pay owing to the varieties having been injudiciously 

 selected, and to improper cultivation. But there are cases 

 where the work has been done in the right way and has been 

 thoroughly successful : varieties of fruit suitable to the locali- 

 ties and to the requirements and tastes of the public have 

 been selected, and the trees have been carefully cultivated 

 and kept free from lichens, mosses, insects and fungi. 



Considerable impetus has been given to fruit planting in 

 many districts by nurserymen who have devoted skill and 

 ability to the development of improved varieties by selection 

 and cross fertilisation, and have brought within the reach of 

 growers good vigorous trees of approved varieties, true to name, 

 at reasonable prices. Nurserymen and gardeners on large 

 estates have also done good work, and set excellent examples 



