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ARBOR DAY at EYNSFORD. 
GENERAL PLANTING. 
HE late Sir Percival Dyke, to liis honour he it said, "raided in 1831 slips of land to 
enable the villagers to grow suHicient Turnips for their families ; and if any were 
found taking this vegetable fiom the field their land was taken from them. 
AYilliam Howard cultivated his for ■sixty-si.'c years, and soon after taking possession 
planted an Ajiple tree Winter Queening. This grew and flourished, regularly 
bearing good crops, and in 1897 it bore some bushels of fine highly-coloured fiVnf*'' 
which attracted great attention. Howard became celebrated as the oldest allotment 
holder in Kent, and, probably, in the kingdom. II. M. Pollett, Esq., of ISiekley, 
hearing this, came to see this interesting villager and his fruit, and was so 'Struck with his history, 
general appearance and good character, that he ^Mr. Pollett) offered to give a Silver Cup to com- 
memorate this unique event. A meeting was called and held at the Board School-rooms, and the 
villagers attended in numbers. Mr. Henry Cannell 
was (inanimously voted to the chair, and to present 
the Cup; and after some technical County Council 
business had been got through, this exemplary 
octogenarian villager was asked to step up. This 
he did, with his bushel of lovely red apples. The 
chairman addressed him with a good many com- 
plimentary remarks on the history of the tree and 
his allotment during all these years, and presented 
him with the Cup, also a photograph of himself and 
the tree he planted so long ago. The healthy 
old chap, on taking hold of the Cup, expressed 
him.self delighted, and told the meeting in his homely 
way how and where he got the tree, planted and 
afterwards nourished it, and also how thankful he was 
that he had during his life done something to make 
his exertions recognised. Before sitting down ho 
made use of these words : “If I hadn’t planted that 
tliere tree 1 shouldn’t have had all this here fruit,” at 
the same time pointing to the basket of lovely Apples. 
These remarks struck deep into the hearts and minds 
of those who heard him, and as Sir William Hart 
Dyke, his landlord, gives all encouragement to 
gardening, the residents of the parish decided on having a village Arbor Day for planting Emit 
and other Ornamental Trees in various parts of it, to enrich and beautify the village, for in 
olden times every man was exhorted “to beget a son, dig a well and plant a tree.” 
On January 6th, 1897, The TVmes strongly advised fruit culture and fruit eating, clearing away 
old trees and inferior varieties, and re()lacing with young pyramidal bushes and best kinds. 
It was therefore arranged to have a real old-fashioned Arbor Day Celebration. All were 
invited. Sir George Birdwood and C. W. W. Radclilfe Cook, Esq., M.P., came from town and 
took a prominent p.art. 
The first [irocccdings were to present Howard with another Winter Queening to ])lant in his 
son’s garden. Sixty years having elaj)sed since our gracious Queen ascended the throne, elforts 
William Howard. Cur and Tref. 
Kindly lent by Ganhnera' Chronicle. 
