Market Gardening in the Vale of Evesham. 101 
the virtues of that variety, has made its appearance in the 
district and been favourably received. 
Apples are being more extensively grown, there being now 
about 3,000 acres of them. Bush trees are mainly planted, and 
these by the more up to date of the growers. This is a step 
in the right direction, since apple blossom escapes the earlier 
frosts, which are so destructive to the blossom of the plum, 
and thus gives a crop of fruit when there are no plums. 
Pears are much less grown than apples, but a move has 
now been made, and bush pear trees are being planted. 
Planters are feeling their way with regard to suitable varieties, 
and wisely so. The writer has seen on one fruit farm plan- 
tations of nice bush trees of the well-known “ Marie Louise ” 
(a variety notoriously “ shy ”), which up to the present have 
given practically no fruit. If they would produce a good 
crop the owner would be fortunate, but this result is difficult 
to attain. Doyenne d’Ete is well thought of by those who 
grow it — a small and early pear, and very prolific. Of course 
Williams’ Bon Chretien is grown, and where this succeeds I 
would recommend a trial — on the quince stock — of Clapp’s 
Favourite, which is an improved form of Williams’ Bon 
Chretien. 
■ Gooseberries constitute the second important fruit crop in 
the district. Probably there are upwards of 900 acres grown, 
and many of these form an “ under crop ” to the plums, being 
planted beneath and between the trees ; but many are also 
grown in the open. They are planted 5 ft. or G ft. apart, 
and the pruning mainly consists of thinning-out the branches 
which are too close, and slightly shortening the young growth. 
Occasionally this crop realises a very high price, but the 
average may be taken as about 45 1. per acre. 
The varieties chiefly grown are Keepsake, Whinham’s 
Industry, Whitesmith, Crown Bob, Lancashire Lad, and Berry’s 
Early Kent. The writer is unable to discover any diffei’ence 
between the first and last named. 
Strawberries. — Omitting tomatoes from this division, straw- 
berries are the next in importance. Many acres are grown, 
but it is difficult to form an approximately correct estimate of 
the total area devoted to them. It is said there are 2,000 
acres. They are usually grown in breadths between the rows 
of plum trees, which are planted 30 ft. to 40 ft. apart ; the rows 
of strawberries being 3 ft. apart. 
During the first year the strawberries occupy the ground a 
catch crop of some kind is taken from between the rows. If 
the strawberries be planted in autumn the catch crop will be 
either spring cabbage or spring onions, or early lettuce ; if 
planted in spring, a crop of cauliflowers, runner beans kept 
