748 = 452 
Fruit Cultivation. 
are root-pruned. Fruit is also grown in private gardens upoi 
pyramids and low bush-trees, as well as upon cordons anc 
espaliers. Peaches, nectarines, and apricots are but seldon 
cultivated for market in the open air, on account of the variabl 
character of the spring season. Even in the most shelters 
situations, in the best managed gardens, upon the wannest wall 
facing south and south-east, these fruits do not come to perfec 
tion more than once in three years. They are grown unde 
glass in " orchard houses " near London and other towns, an 
make long prices at Covent Garden and other markets. 
Lai^e demand There is a large and increasing demand for fruit of all kind 
for fruit. throughout the year in this country, especially for fine, handsom 
table-fruit, of which, in some seasons, there is a great scarciti 
Fruit of second and third-rate quality is eagerly bought ft 
Immense quan- retailing in the large towns, and to supply the preserve mam 
tities of fruit factories in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, an 
makinc"^ ' Glasgow, which take astonishing quantities in the season. Som 
of these manufactories make 15 tons of preserve per day, and 
is calculated that at least 400 tons are made daily throughoi 
the fruit season in all parts of Great Britain. 
.Amount of It is impossible to give any statistics as to the quantity ( 
iruit grown fruit grown in England, or to convey even an approximate ide 
be^ascertained. of how much is taken into London. No octroi duties are levic 
upon produce as in France ; and although tolls are charged upc 
fruit brought into the large London markets either by corpora 
bodies or by private proprietors, much of the fruit does m 
actually go into the market, but is sold in warehouses adjoinin; 
so that tolls are not levied upon it. The preserve manufacture 
make contracts with fruit-growers or with middlemen, who bt 
the growing crops ; and the fruit in these instances does not ^ 
Large importa- to any market, but is sent directly to the manufactories. Besid' 
tion from ^j^g large quantities of fruit grown in this countrj-, the amou: 
other* ^"^^ imported is truly enormous, and is increasing year by yea 
countries. For example, in 1876, according to the Return of the Board 
Trade, 2,372,779 bushels of raw fruit, valued at 1,218,625 
were imported into this Kingdom, as against 2,220,412 bushe 
in 1875, valued at 986,248Z. Of this, 440,760 bushels, value 
at 266,276/., came from France alone^in] 1876, against 581, 1'l 
bushels, valued at 271,878/., in 1875. 
