358 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 18, 1888. 
planting. For the first two years commence to form the standard trees by 
taking out all the inner wood to attain a bowl shape, and cut back the 
young growth to four or six small eyes, to a bud pointing outward ; the 
fourth or fifth year shorten the wood of the current year to 6 or 12 inches, 
and keep the centres clear, and after that time let them grow as they 
like, merely shortening the tips to procure an evenly balanced head, and 
taking out any crossing pieces of growth. The dwarfs can be cut in to 
form pyramids or basins, as desired, for two years, and after that be 
allowed to grow freely. Other matters, such as securing the limbs in a 
heavy crop, and staking the standards, will have to be attended to, and 
the stakes must be removed from the standards in the winter as soon as 
the trees can do without support, as the ties are apt to cut into the bark 
and produce canker. 
For Apple growing land need not be contiguous to a railway station, 
ns they will travel well if carefully packed. Storing enables a grower 
to realise a high price at a time when good Apples are scarce ; where 
proper stores, such as the Hop oasts of Kent do not exist, a frost-proof 
shed will do, and if care is taken to store all sound fruit a thick covering 
■of straw will effectually exclude frost and keep the fruit plump and 
heavy. If 1100 trees bore half a gallon each at three years old the crop 
would be about 70 bushels per acre, which at 4s. nett (carriage and 
salesmen’s charges deducted) would give a return of £14 per acre ; at 
five years one gallon each would double the produce, and so on. When 
the top and bottom crop come to pick an average of half a bushel per 
tree would give a return of about £120 per acre. The risk of loss by 
wind is small with dwarf trees, and the cost of picking is less than in 
tall trees, and they can be readily thinned and attended to. 
A word as to old existing orchards. My text is—Woodman spare 
that tree. If such old trees are well manured in two years they would 
he either producing good fruit, or, if cider Apples, they would so benefit 
from the improved culture that they should pay for regrafting with 
superior kinds. I believe much may be done in this way, as the roots 
soon respond to generous treatment, and the foundation of success rests 
upon them. Suitable kinds for grafting old trees would be Loddington, 
Lane’s Prince Albert, Small’s Admirable, the new and splendid Bismarck, 
■or the smaller dessert Apples, such as Duchess’s Favourite and Yellow 
Ingestrie. 
FRUIT CULTURE FOR PROFIT IN THE OPEN AIR IN 
ENGLAND. 
By Me. William Paul, F.L.S. 
I think I may safely assume that a much larger quantity of 
English fruit would meet with a ready sale if put before the public in 
a tempting state. I think I may also assume that there are thousands 
of acres of land in Great Britain at present bringing little or no profit to 
•owners or occupiers, which, if planted with fruit trees, might be made 
to return a good profit to both. Not that I think large fortunes are to 
be made by the venture, but a fair remuneration for the outlay of 
•capital and the application of industry and skill. 
To give these opinions a practical application, I propose to say a 
few words on the subjects under the following heads :— 
1, Climate. 2, Soils. 
3, Holdings. 4, Sorts. 
1, Climate. —A mild equable climate free from sudden changes of 
temperature and storms of wind or rain should be taken in preference. 
I do not believe in planting Apples, Pears, Cherries, and Plums in the 
bottom of valleys. This is often done on account of the quality of the 
soil. But it is of little benefit to the grower to realise a good growth 
and abundant flowering if his crop is destroyed in the flowering state 
by the spring frosts. Over the last few years there has been a wonder¬ 
ful show of blossom on the fruit trees in the Valley of the Lea, but 
little fruit has followed owing to the destruction of the embryo by the 
severity of the spring frosts in this low situation. This is the one point 
in climate that would seem to render it unsuitable for culture for profit, 
as it can be but partially amended by shelter or any other means. 
It seems to me that many important points desirable to secure 
success, which are well known to those who are thoroughly versed in 
these matters, have not yet taken hold of the general mind, and they 
cannot be too often repeated till they do this. Only a few years ago I 
was surprised to meet with an orchard newly planted in the bottom of 
a moist valley, the climate of which in spring was trying in the extreme 
for early buds and blossoms. The sorts, too, were indifferently chosen. 
Nevertheless the planter persevered with their culture, until he found 
for three or four years in succession he got plenty of blossom but little 
or no fruit. He has recently destroyed them and cropped the ground 
with vegetables. But what a waste of time and money, and what a 
source of vexation and disappointment. 
I believe in planting on slopes or uplands, j where the spring frosts 
are less destructive, with distant shelter to be provided, if not already 
existing. If cheap, quick-growing trees are planted for shelter within 
a few yards of the boundaries of the plantations, at the time young fruit 
trees are planted, the former will afford the necessary shelter by the 
time the fruit trees come into bearing. 
On a farm of 200 acres there may be a difference of climate that 
would render fruit culture profitable or unprofitable, according to the 
position in which the trees are planted. In the Valley of the Lea I find 
that in some years the crop is mainly or wholly on the bottom, and in 
others on the top of the trees. This I attribute to the frost being more 
severe in the one case near the ground, and in the other at a greater 
elevation during the period of flowering. 
2. Soils. —A light or medium loam of good depth and well drained 
is generally accepted as the most favourable for the production of an 
abundance of good fruit. It matters not if it be poor, provided manure 
can be obtained at an easy distance or at a cheap rate. A bad soil in a 
good climate often yields the grower more profitable results than a good 
soil in a bad climate. If the ground be wet, thorough and deep drainage 
is an essential condition of land to be employed in fruit culture, for it 
improves the climate as well as the soil. Chalk or gravel would seem 
to be a better subsoil than clay, as the latter, especially if wet, favours 
the development of canker. 
As to soils for the different fruits I would prefer for Apples a 
medium loam ; for Plums, Pears, and Cherries a light warm loam. For 
Strawberries a light rich loam, cool and moist, with, ready access to 
water. For Kaspberries a deep, light loam, also cool and moist. For 
Gooseberries and Currants a deep, strong loam. But I would not convey 
the impression that these soils are necessary ; in well-drained soils cul¬ 
tivation may be safely extended even to strong or clayey loams. 
Of course, the working of the soil is, or should be, much more costly 
than in ordinary farm operations, and the cultivation of the trees by 
pruning and keeping free from insects is also an item of cost in labour 
which must not be lost sight of. In estimates of profits lately put for¬ 
ward it appears to me that these facts in connection with the cultiva¬ 
tion of trees and soil have not been sufficiently allowed for. 
3. Holdings. —It is often said one should not plant fruit trees for 
profit except on his own land. But this would unnecessarily limit the 
number of growers. A long lease, however, is indispensable. According 
to calculations I have made, but with which I need not trouble you, 
thirty years is the shortest lease I should advise anyone to plant under. 
If the lease be for a shorter period I think the tenant should expect 
from the landlord either a renewal at the same rent as before, or that 
his trees be taken at a valuation. 
It may be thought by some that this is asking too much from the 
owner of the soil, but I do not think it is more than it is his interest to 
concede. By such concession he may secure a good tenant and a good 
rent, and there is ample security for his rent in the value of the trees 
on the soil. I will read a brief extract from a recent number of the 
Sussex Advertiser in reference to land tenure in Kent, and without 
offering any opinion on the course taken by the tenant, as I know 
nothing of the case beyond what is here stated, I think you will all agree 
with me that such a state of things is to be deplored. 
“Land Tenure in Kent. —One of the results of the unsatisfactory 
system of land tenure now prevailing in this country is to be seen at 
Knockholt, Kent. The lease held by Mr. Edwin Bath of Curry Farm, 
in that parish, expires at Michaelmas, and he is not allowed to renew 
his tenancy, nor can he reccover compensation from his landlord for a 
valuable plantation of thirty acres of Raspberries on the farm. Con¬ 
sequently, the extraordinary spectacle may now be seen of a reaping 
machine cutting down and a steam plough following it rooting up this 
plantation, which has cost a large expenditure of time and money to 
produce. When it is considered that the produce of the plantation in 
question realised in the present year upwards of £1690, and that the 
plantation was vigorous and in full bearing, some idea may be formed 
of the sacrifice of property involved.” 
Further : It has often struck me that the manner in which the 
charges on land are levied is not equitable, and is calculated to discourage 
rather than encourage the planting of fruit trees for profit. A few 
words will, I think, make this plain. A man plants fruit trees not 
looking for any quantity of fruit for four years. During that period he 
receives nothing, or next to nothing, in the shape of produce, although 
rent charges cn land and expenses of cultivation are going on and have 
to be met. Then when his crop brings him a larger return than ordinary 
