810 The Farm Prize Competition of 1890. 
land had been cropped, or the prices realised had by reason of 
increased competition considerably fallen. In due course the 
produce from the new plantings (augmented by purchases of 
fruit from the villagers and gardens around) was sent to 
London and realised 2s. to 2s. 6d. per lb., which was quite 
three times the rate of the local market. From the very satis- 
factory returns of this second venture the extended growth of 
the fruit became general in the district, and acres of straw- 
berries are now grown where, prior to the casual visit to Covent 
Garden, only a few yards had been devoted to them. 
In the meantime the procuring of " punnets," or little 
baskets in which to pack the fruit, became a great difficulty, and 
often Mr. Lawry had to "run up" to London by night in the 
middle of the season to obtain what he wanted. Here again his 
indomitable pluck and enterprising skill came to his aid, for he 
devised the idea of making the punnets at home, and now he is 
able to produce not only what he requires himself, but some 
for sale also at prices less than half those he formerly paid. At 
first the wood from which the punnets were made was 
prepared by hand-planes, but at Mr. Lawry 'a instigation, and 
upon his guaranteeing to take a large quantity, a firm in 
Plymouth entered upon the preparation of the wood by 
machinery, and, after many developments of the latter, is now 
able to turn out material for a large quantity as well as make 
up seventy gross of punnets daily. 
Another factory has since been established in the parish of 
St. Mellion at which much wood is prepared and tied up in 
bundles for sale to the fruit growers and their workpeople. 
This punnet-making is now quite an important local industry in 
the little village of Boetheric, near which the farm lies, women 
and children employing their spare hours in the winter months in 
the work, and making quite a comfortable addition to the family 
earnings. From what trifling causes do great results arise ! 
The accidental stroll into Covent Garden was, as Mr. Lawry says, 
practically the making of his fortune, and the foundation of a 
local industry, which has proved a boou indeed to the resi- 
dents of a Cornish village. 
The fruit is grown on the steep banks alongside the river, 
and on the southern slopes of deep valleys which open out on 
either side. Care is taken to select only those sites which face 
southwards, and are sheltered by the surrounding lands from 
the westerly winds and spring frosts. A deep and rich soil, 
however, is not so much sought after as a thin and warm one, 
becauso of the latter favouring early maturity. Preference is 
given to strawberries because of their being the most reliable 
