.Tanaary 1, 1801. ] 
JOURXAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
7 
pood kinds be pot—sorts that are at once prolific, bearinir fruits of pood 
quality, and of kinds havinp a brisk local demand. There are some 
kinds—of Apples, say—which are safe anywhere : Lord Sullield, 
Eclinville, Cellini, Dumelow's Seedling. Stirling CastU (an almost 
always safe cropper in every season. This year, 1 daresay Stirling 
Castle is more generally full cropped than any other variety), and 
amongst finer coloured fruits, Worcester Pearmain, Cox’s Orange Pippin 
(for flavour, unequalled by any Apple, British or foreign, to my think¬ 
ing), Blenheim Orange (splendid for kitchen or dessert), Irish Peach, 
and a dozen others. These arc always sate to find ready sale in their 
season ; it is oftentimes a desire with the fruit grower to extend his list, 
and this is a matter in which there is a real danger, for multiplying 
kinds, for the mere sake of mnltiplication, is a most undesirable method 
of proceilure. 
As to the form in which the trees should be grown, and the way in 
which the ganlen, or the fruit farm, should be planted, that greatly 
depends upon the purpose in view, the surroundings, and upon other 
conditions and circumstances which will not bo slow to suggest them¬ 
selves. It is of course desirable to have variety in safe limit, and I 
think it is the wiser method to choose kinds, and to secure trees and 
plants that will prolong the fruit season as far as possible—that is to 
say, in the case of Strawberries, for instance, you must have a certain 
number—say the greatest number—to come in early in the season, but 
you should also have kinds that will carry you over late into the season 
also. In Apples, too, it is desirable to have an abundance of early 
kinds; I see, for instance, that the importation of Apples, for the 
present year, has already reached a total of bushels running far into 
five figures, but it is also desirable to have late keeping kimis. Quite 
late last summer we used the last of our I'umelow’s Seedling of 
harvest 18811. 
But we must leave this interesting section all too soon, and pass on. 
There must next be duo provision of intelligent labour, directed by 
skilful supervision. In newly formed ganlens and orchards, planted up 
with young trees, judicious planning in the arr.ingomcnt, and careful 
regard to right principles in the execution of the work as it pro¬ 
gresses, and to the trees as they grow, arc essential, otherwise a waste 
of land, time, and labour will readily result. Deep planting is a 
frequent cause of failure, and a tree tumbled into a hole, with the soil 
“ rammed home,” as the phrase goes, cannot possibly give a good account 
of itself. 
As to kinds and proportions of kinds of fruit—that is to say, the 
area allotted rcsnectively to Apples, Bear.s, stone fruits, berries, an<l 
other fruits, or fruit-like vegetables, that must bo determined by 
market demands and conveniences, but in all mixed fruit farms it is 
best to give the preference to those fruits lets liable to ” pul(),” other¬ 
wise there m.ay possibly be too heavy demand upon anxious attention at 
periods when the uncertainty of the weather, or other causes, tend to 
increase cares and disturb the labour balance, and thus to prejudice 
other crops. 
Under the head of cultivation, a host of detai's present themselves. 
We must only glance at some of them and go on. As a general rule, 
sadly too little attention is paid to the after care and management of 
fruit trees. 1 am often struck with the continuous care and attention 
bestowed upon the fruit (juarters in a well oniered nursery—the wash¬ 
ing, trimming, and training, the freipient surface cleaning of the land, 
the watering and feeding—a continuous process, or series of processes, 
insuring cleanness of stem and leaf, aiul an immunity from insect depre¬ 
dation, or from the blight of disease ; a safeguard against the scaly 
covering of the Lichen, and a preventive method against parasitic attack, 
either of the vegetable or the animal kingdom. It is very much the 
same in the garden as it is in the house. Neglect weakens the hairier 
which Mature sets up to prevent the attack of influences harmful, whilst 
cleanliness and ” heartiness” (if the word may pass) seem to give power 
of passing through the midst of the scourge unharmed. The enemies of 
the fruit growers are numerous, and may be classed under headings, 
atmospheric, entomologic, and parasitic, under adverse influences of 
seoson, so that only watchfulness, helpfulness, and perpetual care can 
secure even the chaneo of a successful result ; for tliis is the rewanl 
only of intelligent imiustry, on right lines, in right temper, with good 
material and proper method. Truly man in tlio ganlen is there to 
dress it and to keep it. I’roduction is the law of the earth. It is 
impossible to keep weeds out of the garden ; but it is only the sloven, or 
the sluggard, who will have a garden of w’ceds. 
We must take a brief glance at the second division of the subject 
to complete the paper. In the matter of fruit distribution, there is 
serious need of well arranged and properly applied organisation. 
Fruit growing as an industry is most heavily weighted, firstly, by 
lack of united effort and action on the pait of producers themselves : 
and, secondly, by a certain apathy on tlie part of purelnisers, and by 
many other things, chief amongst which may be classed “ monopolists,” 
whom for convenience wo class under the all-embracing term of 
‘‘ muldle men,” ami this must also include carrying companies in 
general. 
The second part of our subject may then be briefly considered as 
having a bearing upon— (A) tiathcring, (n) sorting, ((') storing, (p) 
packing, and (lo) marketing. 
If any responsible market salesman were asked to saj’ in a word what 
is essential to command a market, he won’ 1, ‘ am cure, say euqihatieally 
and without hesitation, “(piality.” After fruit is produced, the initial 
process to insure (piality is necessarily careful gathering ; nothing is 
more easily damaged and blemished than freit, and a braised Blum, 
or a crushed berry, can never bo coaxed, or conjured, into perfection 
afterwards. 
After the gathering comes the sorting, or rather ought to come the 
sorting. The difference in value between sorted and unsorted fruit 
would scarcely be believed. This is to be noticed as a distinguishing 
feature of Araeric.an and other imported fruits. My remarks under 
these headings are necessarily brief, but they are none the less 
emphatic. 
In cases where the fruit is stored, extreme care must be taken in the 
handling, and choice kinds should be wrapped in soft tissue paper. 
When once placed into position, they should not afterwards be moved 
about or handled. An even temperature should be secured in the fruit 
room, and kinds should, of course, be kept separate and distinct as 
gathered, and deposited. Farmyard straw, or musty hay, must be care¬ 
fully avoided. Nothing is more unpleasant than a straw-flavoured 
Apple, or Bears that have been robbed of their richness by the mouldy 
atmosphere to which they have been subjected. I have often wondered 
whether in this age of invention some chemist may not some day invent 
some saturated preparation of flavoured material, in wdiich the fruits 
shall be placed ami stored, and, when the aroma has been absorbed, we 
via. 2.— AIK. KDAIUN'O .T. KAII.LIK, I’.L.S, 
should have (he natural fruit, plus the added quality (a doubtful 
advantage tridy) of, siy chocolate or vanilla, or some other delusive 
delight of the laboratory and a fidse appetite ; but for those of us who 
jirefer Nature’s flavouring, as imparte(i by the air, the atmosphere, and 
the sun, all we need is that no foreign peculiarity shall be imported. 
Let thoxe who want essenc.'s and condiments get them in the phial of 
the druggist, or the canister of the dealer in such products, wo are 
content with the luscious juice, distilled and stored in the casket pre- 
(lared for it by a beneficent Brovidenee in the duo advance of the laws 
of Nature and in the changing seasons of the varying year. 
In packing, we are coming nearer to the processes more distinctly 
commercial. I have before referred to the perfection of many of our 
imported fruits, as illustrative of careful sorting. Tne illustration may 
serve also for right packing. 1 have seen a b.isket of Apfilcs sent across 
one eounty more knocked and damaged than a barrel of choice fruits 
which had come hundreds of miles across country, and over the ocean 
afterwards. With such fruits as Uispberiies and Strawberries, 
esfiecially, the art of jiacking must be duly recognised, or you may 
soon spell disaster. 1 am not comfortable in having to pass 
matters of so luiieli iniportanco under such hasty review, but space is 
inexora’ole. 
Lastly, under the head of Marketing. 1 should include all methods 
of distribution. When shall we buy and sell fruits by sam|)lo? This 
will bo a marked advance. Why should a fruit grower take his produce, 
and stand by until an uncertain public clears him out/ Mdes from 
home, it often beoomes a forced sale, and is, at best, a shocking waste of 
valuable time, according to our present system. The vendor or his 
