October 13, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
101 
organise themselves into local societies in order that 
they may be in a proper position to ascertain what 
fruits they have to sell, when they will be ready for 
gathering, and then ascertain the requirements of par¬ 
ticular districts, and what they are likely to buy, so 
as to enable them to take steps to supply them. It is 
not possible to attain this position by individual action, 
for no single grower could supply from his own crops 
the particular requirements of the traders of a town ; 
but these requirements if once ascertained, which they 
may be in a general sense, could be furnished from 
the crops of several growers. 
Where local organisations are thus formed they 
could readily communicate with the central organisation 
that has been formed to place itself in communication 
with the traders of all districts, in order to simplify 
the distribution of food products, and they by ascer¬ 
taining the probable food requirements of a district, 
and having a knowledge of the crops of fruit that were 
available in many localities, could arrange to dispose of 
and deliver them direct from the orchards. The defect 
that fruit-growers suffer from arises from the fact that 
being given to this subject, which presents many 
features requiring careful consideration and fore¬ 
thought, that without in any way adding to the costs 
of cultivation and delivery may materially aid to 
increase the amounts receivable for the fruits. 
Be it remembered that no fruits grow exactly all 
alike, the same as bricks are made, but every tree or 
bush will contain some fruits of a more or less choice 
character. Wherever these can be selected they will if 
packed by themselves realise a much larger proportionate 
price without interfering with the price of the whole 
crop. There are different classes of buyers in all 
perishable food products, and more especially in fruits, 
and there are different members in each trade who 
supply the requirements of buyers. Anyone going 
into an average-sized orchard when the fruit is ripe and 
ready for gathering will, upon examination, discover 
choice specimens fit for an exhibition or the window of 
the highest class fruiterers at the West End of London. 
Other fruits may be seen that, by themselves, would 
furnish a reasonable supply of more than a general 
character. Further, there will be seen the remainder 
fruit could be grown under favourable conditions it 
ought to be valuable to those who supply our markets. 
My gardener thinks so highly of it that he is gradually 
going to do away with the old sort, as he can increase 
this one.— E. J. Ptclc, Downes House, Eling, South¬ 
ampton. [The variety in question is not much known, 
but certainly deserves wider recognition among amateurs 
and gardeners, by reason of its remarkable productive¬ 
ness and late-bearing habit. Like Belle de Fontenay, 
it is a good and thoroughly reliable sort, and most 
useful in the kitchen, but would be of little use in the 
market, for the reason that the great mass of buyers 
would not purchase them out of season.—E d.] 
Chittenden’s Cluster or Farleigh Prolific 
Damson. 
Perhaps there is no more convenient season than the 
present for again bringing forward the merits of this 
Damson when so much is being said upon fruits of all 
kinds at the various conferences now being held. The 
first object in planting a fruit tree should be for the 
purpose of producing fruit. The Damson under notice 
The Crittenden Cluster or Farleigh Prolific Damson. 
while their transactions are naturally of an individual 
character, and must remain so, they have no recognised 
central representative organisation who could collect 
information from varied districts as to their possible 
fruit requirements, and disseminate the knowledge 
among those who had the fruit to dispose of, and also 
arrange many other subjects of interest and importance, 
such as packages, railway rates, transmission, &c., all 
matters small in themselves and readily adjustable, but 
each of which forms an indispensable connecting link 
in a commercial chain, without which a transaction 
cannot be carried through. Hitherto fruit growers 
have left everything with their salesmen, whose interest 
it is to collect and retain any information, and to 
obstruct any course by which the consignment of the 
fruit to themselves would be interfered with. They 
therefore have a vested interest in obstructing any 
movement that would have a tendency to impart to 
growers any information that would advise them when 
and .where fruit was required, which is the keystone to 
the system of direct distribution. 
The second prominent feature incidental to scientific 
distribution is the delivery to consumers just what they 
want in the best possible condition. The interests of 
sellers will be considerably advanced by full attention 
of the growth suitable for the costermonger’s barrow or 
the jam pot. If they remain while the fruit is gathered 
they will see it all packed together in such a way 
that no regard is paid to the choice specimens of 
fruit that may be there, but they are so dealt with 
that they will all find their way to one destination, 
which, as likely as not, may be the costermonger’s 
barrow. This is the mistake that growers make, and 
where they unknowingly suffer material loss. 
-- 
Motes on Bruits. 
Raspberry, Quatre Saisons. 
I conclude that as no one has commented on the 
remarks I sent you some weeks ago concerning this 
variety of Raspberry, that few people know it. I now 
send you a few sprays, from which you can form an 
idea of its productiveness at this time of year. They 
are only picked off the tops of long canes covered with 
young fruit for more than 15 ins., and will go on 
ripening until the hard frosts kill the flowers and spoil 
the fruit. In growth the Quatre Saisons differs some¬ 
what from the common Raspberry. Surely if this fine 
is not only a select kind in its way for preserving and 
for cooking purposes, but it is the best obtainable, and 
an enormous bearer. Already large breadths of it are 
planted in Kent and other counties, but there is still 
ample room for its extension. Hedgerows might be 
planted with it instead of the Bullace, and it may be 
grown as a standard in orchards ; but the most interest¬ 
ing form which it may take is the pyramidal. It can 
readily be induced to assume this shape by a little 
timely attention, and the effect is marvellous when 
loaded with its roundish oval fruits, which are black, 
covered with a thin bloom. In exposed situations 
bushes or half standards are to be recommended 
before standards or pyramids, as the branches are not 
so liable to be broken down when heavily laden with 
fruit. The enormous strain upon the branches and the 
trees generally can be gleaned from our illustration, 
which faithfully represents a short twig as the fruits 
grew. This Damson is also very effective in spring as 
an ornamental little tree in the pleasure grounds or the 
shrubbery. Of its origin there is a little uncertainty, 
Dr. Hogg ascribing it to Mr. James Crittenden, of East 
Farleigh, Kent, and who is stated to have raised it 
about the beginning of the present century, while Mr. 
George Bunyard, of Maidstone, regards it as an ac¬ 
cidental or wild seedling. 
