August 2 ', 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
171 
+ 
I T is sometimes difficult to tell the truth on a matter without 
being suspected of exaggeration, but in this case it is impossible 
to exaggerate, and only facts will be narrated, plain, incontro¬ 
vertible, sober facts. It is beyond all question that on a fine 
day, or nearly so, early in the present month miles of fruit 
plantations were traversed and millions of flowers seen and 
admired. Either one or the other of these would suffice as 
affording material for a page of the Journal of Horticulture , but as 
they were seen together, so to say, they must be referred to 
together at the risk of each detracting from the force of the other ; 
though both undoubtedly, and in association, show in a remarkable 
manner the outcome of industrial enterprise and great business 
aptitude in creating wealth to the advantage of a community. 
The pioneers in the work of changing the character of a district in 
and from which hundreds of families obtain the means of sub¬ 
sistence in the place of tens, or even of fives, a few short years ago, 
ought to be the chief beneficiaries, and it is gratifying to observe 
that they appear to enjoy a goodly amount of prosperity, with the 
pleasant addition of the respect of the surrounding population. 
A good deal is heard from time to time of over-population, of 
the people not having room to live in the old country, and of the 
desirability, therefore, of the formation of relief colonies iu other 
lands. Unfortunately it is too true that there are congested dis¬ 
tricts not capable perhaps of material industrial development, but 
there are many more of an entirely different character, which only 
need capital, enterprise, and labour to increase their productiveness 
and value tenfold, and afford means of livelihood to ten times more 
families than the few that now struggle for existence. Given what 
may be termed favourable concrete conditions, fertile soil, fair 
elemental influences, and direct links, in the form of railways, with 
the great centres of population, and there is good hope that 
industrial colonies as happy and prosperous may be founded in 
the Old World as in the New. The “resources of civilisation” 
as applied to soil cultivation are not yet exhausted at home, and 
the best and most has not yet been done in meeting the wants 
of the nation by the nation, with something to spare for other 
nations in the form of fruit, plants, and flowers which make the 
millions who enjoy them the happier by their possession. 
What has already been accomplished in some localities in the 
direction indicated demonstrates, if anything can demonstrate, the 
possibility of greater achievements in others. That vast tracts of 
land have depreciated in value during recent years is a deplorable 
fact, but it is not less true that there have been more exceptions to 
the deterioration than is generally supposed ; and it is well known 
by many workers that the rental of hundreds of acres of land 
devoted to purposes of cultivation has been substantially increased. 
It may appear a bold statement to make, but it is true, that through 
a change of culture alone, from poverty stricken herbage and 
weedy corn fields to the production of fruit and flowers, the 
value of much land has not been doubled or trebled merely as 
represented by increased rental ; but instances could be narrated 
in which the rise has been tenfold in about half a generation. 
Naturally it will be thought, if not said, that such results must be 
entirely exceptional. There is not the least desire to suggest that 
they are otherwise. Let it be admitted that the cases are distinctly 
and absolutely exceptional, and what then ? Simply that they 
No. 583.— Vol. XXIII., Third Series. 
exist, and do not they carry with them much significance? No 
evidence is said to be so cogent as that founded on accomplished 
facts, and that the facts alluded to are as stated those who pay 
and those who receive the rents know full well. Nor is it suggested 
that similar results are attainable everywhere, for they are not. 
Landowners differ, tenants differ, and soil differs ; but when all 
are good together the standard of productiveness is bound to bo 
raised very considerably. 
But where has the progress in question been made ? Where 
can the mile3 of fruit plantations and millions of flowers be seen ? 
In the neighbourhood of Swanley in Kent. The object of a 
visit to this district was to verify a statement that nearly 500 tons 
of Strawberries had been sent from Swanley Station in July, and 
nearly 80 tons in one day ; also to try and gain admittance to 
Mr. Wood’s jam factory and see what was going on there. Both 
desires were accomplished. The one that was thought to be the 
most difficult in the easiest possible manner—seeing the great fruit 
preserving establishment. Quite unexpectedly the first person met 
with at the station was Mr. Cannell. “ Ah, good morning, my 
friend ; good morning, very pleased to see you. Come along ’ 
(just as if he thought I had gone to see him alone). “Yes,” was 
the response, “ with pleasure, if you can just get me into the 
factory there, as I am on a fruit prospecting expedition. ’ “ All 
right,” was the rejoinder. “ I see—you just do what I tell you, 
and you shall see something—fruit growing, fruit picking, and 
fruit boiling ; miles of trees, and the most beautiful country in the 
world. Been abroad have you ? Yes ; well there is nothing like 
it abroad—come along, and if you are satisfied with the fruit you 
shall see some flowers.” I feared when I met the floral pioneer of 
Swanley he would if he could keep me all day among the flowers, 
as he is such an enthusiast. It is due to him to say he did not 
attempt anything of the kind. He spent far more time in shoving 
the fruit of others than the flowers of his own. He is no doubt 
proud of his work as he ought to be, but he is not less proud 
of the work of others, and of what has been done in the district 
in which he dwells. He found Swanley with a roadside inn, 
a few scattered cottages, with no industries, no population worth 
naming, because there was small demand for labour on the farms 
when under grass or agricultural tillage; but a change ensued, 
he established himself there, let the world know it in a proper 
and profitable business way, and Swanley, which hitherto was 
unheard of beyond a local radius, became a familiar name 
throughout the civilised world. His energy and enterprise had 
a stimulating effect on others, the favourable nature of the soil 
for fruit culture was recognised, and facilities for distribution 
perceived. Farmers who grew some fruit extended their opera¬ 
tions until hundreds of acres were devoted to Strawberries and 
Raspberries, mainly in the place of Potatoes, Wheat, and weeds. 
In the meantime his own business increased. His increasing 
number of workpeople required homes. He commenced building. 
The labour demand grew with the extension of fruit culture, and 
others found it both necessary and advantageous to erect houses 
for the workers in turn, and the work still goes on. What with 
glass and cottages, half of the tract of land, about half a mile long, 
originally obtained by Mr. Cannell will soon be roofed over, and 
the cottages are still, row after row, creeping down the hill, and 
will soon be in touch with his own residence at the foot. The 
whole ground at least down to the forty or fifty ranges of glas3 in 
the valley seems destined to be eaten up, and perhaps the glass will 
go in turn, who knows ? Mr. Cannell appears to be alive to the 
coming change, and hence his acquisition at Eynsford. On his 
300 acres there lie has not only “ somewhere to go,” but has in 
great part gone, for he has built himself a much larger house there 
than the one he built at Swanley. 
The increase of population, tenements, wealth is almost wholly 
due to flowers and fruit. Wealth ! Yes ; Mr. Cannell’s ground, 
previously let for less than a pound an acre, could not now be 
No. 2239. — Vol. LXXXV., Old Series. 
