88 JOURNAL OF THE KOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



liarmony in a meeting of this character, when I say that man 

 can derive all needful sustenance from the cereals and fruit ; that is 

 to say, humanity has in fruits — for cereals are fruits — all that it 

 needs. Mark, please, I do not say it has therein all that it 

 craves, but all that it needs. 



Now, if in any other machine than that of man (if you permit 

 him to he so considered for a moment), heat, essential for its going, 

 could be got from deal logs, and it was being fed by the engineer 

 with French polished mahogany and refined oils, we should 

 consider it strange. Of course, he might do it if he liked ; but, 

 should we wonder why ? Man, so far as his means permit, may, 

 too, feed on what he likes, but the economist must first consider 

 essentials, not preferences or prejudices. But I find I must push 

 forward, for I dare not pursue fancy too far in a paper of twenty 

 minutes' length. 



After the determination of what is essential for the mainte- 

 nance of life we must consider the labour question. Which of 

 the four systems under which we have divided the question of 

 cultivation employs the largest amount of labour, and in which 

 are our labourers the most happily and healthily engaged ? Un- 

 hesitatingly, with firmest decision, we answer, in fruit production. 

 Quite lately I, by chance, became the travelling companion of one 

 of the largest agriculturists in our county, whose farm lands had 

 been laid down to grass. He had given up corn for cattle, and 

 he told me that as a result fifteen cottages were at that moment 

 standing empty so far as farm labourers are concerned. He had 

 no further use for them, and they had gone — where ? He did 

 not know, but in all probability to swell the already congested 

 population of the towns. How are we to get our open-faced, 

 honest-hearted country population back to the green lanes and 

 the gardens? 



One of the best methods is the development of the industry 

 of fruit production. But is our climate such as to encourage 

 safely the cultivation of hardy fruits ? Let us not commit the 

 often rash errors of a too eager enthusiasm. I do not know 

 which most to pity or blame — the blind optimist who to every 

 question suggesting the possibility of big profits. Arcadian delights, 

 and a contented population always basking in the sunshine of 

 ease and unconcern, replies, " I answer enthusiastically — Yes ; " 

 or the poor pessimist who says our apples are only crabs, that 

 there is a worm at every core, that the glory has departed, and 

 we are all tumbling into the Slough of Despond. 



But there is a via media. It is possible to make the crooked 

 straight, and the rough places plain, if we only set ourselves 

 heartily to find the more excellent way. 



Hardy fruits can be grown, and well grown, in this much 

 despised climate of ours ; but, like everything else, it must be 

 done properly. No more subtle sweetness, crispness, and alto- 



