GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 
VII. 
The following official report shows that the increase is not so rapid in England. The 
Agricultural Returns published by Parliament show that the amount of orcharding in England, 
that is, “ The acreage of arable, or grass land, but used for fruit trees of any kind,” was 
In 1877 
» • $ • • • 
* • • 
159,095 acres 
„ 1880 
• • • • • 
• . • 
175,200 „ 
„ 1883 
unties stand highest in 
• • • • • • 
the list :— 
• • • 
185,782 „ 
1 877 
1880 
1883 
Herefordshire 
24,885 
26,683 
27,081 
Devon 
24,776 
25)758 
26,348 
Somerset 
20,921 
22 ;993 
23,407 
Kent 
13,097 
14,685 
17,417 
Worcester 
14,621 
15,854 
16,804 
Gloucester 
11,965 
14,178 
14,926 
e difference— 
Cornwall 
4»497 
4,678 
4,869 
Dorset 
3,814 
3 , 7 !b 
4,073 
Monmouth 
2,932 
3,618 
3,919 
Salop 
2,944 
3, 2 48 
00 
G 
Hi 
CO 
Middlesex 
3.051 
3,249 
3,467 
The remainder is divided between 39 other counties. 
In Iderefordshire, and chiefly also in Devonshire and Somersetshire, the hardy fruits grown 
are almost confined to apples and pears. The increase in the fruit tree acreage for these counties is 
steady though not great ; but there is ample room to improve the orchards that already exist by 
supplying the place of the worthless varieties of fruit with those of value. 
It has been one great object of this work, to encourage as far as possible the increased growth 
of the best varieties of Table Fruit. The fact that a Gold Medal was this year awarded to 
Herefordshire Apples in the centre of Normandy bears out this recommendation, and proves most 
satisfactorily that both the climate and soil here are well adapted to their cultivation. The demand 
for an increased supply of Table Fruit must always exist so long as foreign apples are imported so 
largely as is shown by this Return :— 
“The quantity of apples imported into this country from various countries in 1882, amounted 
to 2,386,805 bushels, valued at ,£783,906. In 1883 the quantity was 2,251,925 bushels, the value being 
stated in the Agricultural Returns as ,£553,488.” 
American apples are brought in considerable quantities into our own markets, and the careful 
manner in which they have been sorted out and packed, to make the sample equally good throughout, 
affords an example that Herefordshire fruit growers would do well to follow, in sending their fruit for 
sale. Much more might be said on this subject, but it is scarcely necessary ; for the practical 
conclusions must be self-evident to everyone. 
