396 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
5 per cent, ad valorem substituted. This called forth 
strong remonstrances from the growers, who represented 
that nothing but ruin would befal them; that they could 
not maintain their orchards and their population; and 
that the total extinction of both must be the conse¬ 
quence. This became a subject for parliamentary in¬ 
quiry, and a committee was appointed to investigate 
the subject. Thirty-five witnesses were examined, and 
out of these only four or five were in favour of the altera¬ 
tion. In the evidence before this committee, it was 
stated that the remunerating price to the grower would 
be from 3s. Od. to 4s. per bushel. One witness was of 
opinion that, taking the average of years, 3s. would be 
ample remuneration. Judging from the evidence before 
this committee, the main object the powers had in view 
was to induce the government to believe that, from the 
comparatively low prices arising from large crops ob¬ 
tained between 1832 and 1837, it would be impossible 
to continue their plantations unless the protecting duty 
was restored. They were, however, unsuccessful, and 
many of them, in their visions of despair, did actually 
begin to displant, some to the extent of eight and ten 
acres, supposing they would never again see their remu¬ 
nerating average of 4s. Rut, notwitiistanding the great 
reduction of duty, we find, from the table subjoined, that 
the price has been actually greater since than it had 
been for 13 years previously. 
In 1843 the duty was altered to 6d. per bushel, at 
which it still continues; and what has been the con¬ 
sequence? We find that in 1840, with an importation 
of 292,427 bushels, the average price in the markets was 
8s. per bushel, or 4s. more than the most sanguine 
expectation of the most doleful witness could possibly 
have reached; and that in 1850, with an importation 
amounting to no less than 407,029 bushels, the average 
price was 5s. 6d., or Is. 6d. more than any other doleful 
witness would have been satisfied with. Now, what we 
want to know is, why do the orchardists and occupiers 
of land in this country allow 407,029 bushels of foreign 
apples to be brought into our markets, when an average 
price of 5s. Od. can be obtained for our own growth of 
that article, and for which 4s. is a remunerating return 
according to their own statement ? 
Here, again, we are forced to remark on the total 
disregard to the importance of treating orchards as a 
branch of rural economy. We hear of Agricultural 
Societies, and Horticultural Societies, Cattle Shows, 
Poultry Shows, and Flower Shows; and what would 
the cattle, and poultry, and flowers of this country have 
been, were it not for these societies, and these shows ? 
But why is it we hear nothing of Orchard Societies, and 
Fruit Shows? Why of no premiums for the best cultivated 
orchards; the best grown fruit; nor for the best essay on 
the adaptations as to soil, climate, and use of the best 
varieties of fruit? Surely these are subjects worthy of 
attention in this age of ju'ogression and improvement. 
Look at our increasing population, and increased con¬ 
sumption of all kinds of produce; the facilities of com¬ 
munication from one end of the country to the other; 
the comparative luxuries that our mechanics, artisans. 
Februahy 24. ! 
I 
and labourers now enjoy; and contrast this with the 
low, limited, and laggard state of our orchard cultiva- i 
tion; it would seem that in proportion as other pur¬ 
suits progressed this was retrograding. It is not from 
choice that our mechanics and artisans consume these 
407,029 bushels of foreign apples, tainted and worthless 
as they generally are, but it is because there are some 
4000 or 5000 acres less of orchard produce of our own, 
that they ai-e compelled to do so. Now, there must be 
in this country some 4000 or 5000 acres of land in the 
condition of that on which one of the witnesses gave 
the following evidence:— 
“ Q. If you could have let your laud without any j 
difficulty as a fruit plantation, at i,'5 an acre, what do 
you suppose you could let it at to grow corn?—A. It is 
very light land, on a hill, and stony; I should have 
great trouble to get £'l an acre for it to grow corn.” 
And as regards the quality of tliis foreign fruit, we 
again quote jjart of the evidence already refen-ed to, as 
given by a witness wlio fought hard for the old duty. 
How he supported his views will be seen from the 
following;— 
“ Q. Will not the effect of the introduction of foreign 
apples be to lower the price ? —A. Yes. 
“ Q. Then will not the poor have the foreign apples 
at a lower price; and, of course, will they not consume 
them when they are brouglitin?—A. They are hardly 
worth consuming, half of them ; they are scarcely worth 
eating. 
“ Q. Then, if they are not consumed, the English 
apples w’ill come into consumption; must we not sup¬ 
pose that the English consumer, finding that the French 
are not worth eating, will consume the English ?—A. 1 
suppose they must. 
“Q. How will they consume the English, if they 
have ceased to exist?—A. I am supposing that they 
have not ceased. 
“ Q. But supposing this alteration of duty should 
discourage the English planter of orchards, and the 
present orchards fall into decay, what becomes then of 
your supply?—A. You have no other way of getting a 
supply but from France; and in the event of a war how 
are you to get that? 
“ Q. But, if the French supply is so very bad, the 
! English consumer will not take it, and the English j 
j orchards will not go out of growth, will they, because it ' 
j will be worth the while of tho English grower to keep 
them up?—A. It will reduce the price." 
In drawing our observations to a conclusion, we , 
would remark that, from what we have stated, it will be j 
seen that this is a subject calling for special attention. 
Hitherto it has been neglected among us; we do not 
seem, in this country, to be alive to the importance of 
it: but it is not so elsewhere. We know that in America 
there are Societies formed for the purpose of directing 
and encouraging it. In France and Germany it is 
regarded as of paramount importance, and in Belgium 
it is honoured by the patronage and support of the 
Government. Can nothing be done here ? Can no , 
Society be organised to aid on and give direction and > 
