106 
Fruit-growing in Kent. 
ever, in which the fruit is grown upon slight shoots. These 
require thinning out, and shortening, if possible, to prevent the 
fruit from injury from wind. 
Cultivation. — Cultivated fruit-plantations are seldom ma- 
nured with farmyard- or stable-manure, as from its bulk it is 
difficult and expensive to put on land thickly covered with 
fruit-trees. Shoddy is very largely used, at the rate of from 
1 to 2 tons per acre, costing from 48s. to 100s. per ton, accord- 
ing to its percentage of ammonia.* This is easily got in, and 
suits fruit-trees well. Rags, both "mixed" and "woollens," 
form a capital, easily-applied manure ; the quantity put on and 
the cost are about the same as in the case of shoddy. Fish- 
manure, rape-dust, and the refuse from furriers' and tanners' 
shops* are all good manures. I have tried superphosphate of 
lime without much apparent benefit. From kainite of potash 
put on fruit-land, at the rate of 7 cwts. per acre, it was thought 
that good results followed, though the effect of this manure 
could never be traced when applied for other crops ; for apples, 
like hops, absorb an enormous quantity of potash from the soil. 
All manures are put on in the winter, and the land is dug 
afterwards with the Kentish " spud " which is used in hop- 
gardens, having four flattened tines, as early in the winter as 
possible, before any bloom-buds are developed, so that the diggers 
may not injure them and rub them off. The plantations, or 
" plats," as they are locally termed, are hoed over with plate-hoes 
two or three times during the summer to check the weeds, 
which grow luxuriantly in the shade of " melancholy boughs." 
Many large fruit-growers in East and Mid Kent sell the fruit 
on the trees by auction or private contract to middlemen, who, 
making fruit-buying a regular business, thoroughly understand 
the picking and packing of fruit, and the best time and place 
to sell the various kinds. Sometimes they are salesmen, or 
connected with salesmen in the London markets, who are well 
versed in the mysteries of the trade. This saves the growers 
much trouble, as they are generally busy with the all-engrossing 
hop-harvest when the apples, pears, plums, and nuts require 
attention. This is not so much done near London, where hops 
are not grown to any extent. 
Diseases.- — Besides canker, mainly caused by injudicious 
pruning, to which Ribston Pippin, Golden Pippin, King 
Pippin, and other delicate sorts are specially liable, a plague 
of caterpillars appears occasionally just as the trees are begin- 
ning to bloom. Twice within the last twelve years they have 
* I have h:id analyses of shoddy from Dr. Voclcker, in 'which the amount of 
ammonia has varied from 5 to 11 per cent. 
