198 
March  5,  1903. 
JOURNAL  UN  nORflCULTURE  AND 
CO  TTA  GE  a  A  RDENEEL 
The  Market  Culture  of  Fruits. 
(Concluded  from  patje  18G.) 
Apples  come  next  into  profit.  Standards,  or  half-standards 
commenco  giving  a  remunerative  return  about  the  seventh  year, 
attain  the  period  of  best  production  about  the  fifteenth  season, 
and  remain  remunerative  for  about  fifty  years.  In  a  full-crop 
year  the  yield  is  about  six  tons,  giving  a  gross  return  of  £60 
l>er  acre. 
Dwarf  Apples  begin  tO'  prove  remunerative  at  the  third 
year,  varying  according  to  variety,  all  by  the  fifth  season,  and 
get  into  full  profit  about  the  twelfth  or  fifteenth  year,  and  are 
certainly  good  for  production  for  a  long  period  afterwards,  or 
twenty-four  or  thirty  years.  In  a  full-crop  year  the  produce 
may  reach  ten  or  even  twelve  tons,  and  give  a  gross  return  of 
£100  to  £120  per  acre. 
Pears,  as  dwarfs,  come  into  profit  about  the  fifth  year,  and 
acciuire  best  production  in  the  tenth  to  fifteenth  year,  and  then 
afford  about  four  tons  of  fruit  per  acre,  with  a  gross  return 
of  £40  up  to  £120.  The  trees,  being  on  Quince  stocks,  are 
regarded  as  not  long-lived,  but  with  good  management  I  have 
known  them  healthy  and  productive  over  twenty-five  years,  and 
how  much  longer  I  know  not. 
'Standard  Pears  attain  remunerative  return  size  about  the 
twelfth  year,  full  profit  at  the  twentieth  year,  and  remain 
productive  for  fifty  years  or  more ;  the  production  may  range 
from  two  to  four  tons,  and  the  gross  return  per  acre  £20  to  £40 
in  full-crop  years. 
Plums,  as  Standards,  begin  to  afford  remunerative  return 
about  the  tenth  year,  and  in  the  fifteenth  season  are  at  full 
profit.  The  trees  continue  to  about  the  thirtieth  year  in  profit¬ 
able  production,  or  in  good  soils  up  to  forty  years  or  longer. 
A  full  crop,  only  certain  about  every  third  year,  reaches  the 
enormous  total  of  seven  tons  or  more  per  acre,  and,  barring  a 
glut  of  the  markets,  yields  a  gross  return  of  £112  or  more. 
Dwarf  Plums  will  grow  too  freely,  so  that  they  do  not  com- 
menoe  giving  a  remunerative  return  until  the  seventh  year,  and 
are  at  their  best  period  of  production  about  the  twelfth  year, 
for  once  they  start  bearing,  in  earnest,  and  are  not  pruned  into 
grossness,  they  will  sometimes  nearly,  or  quite,  kill  themselves 
by  over-production.  The  production  is  not  materially  heavier 
than  standard  trees,  and  the  value  is  not  more,  unless  the 
varieties  are  superior  and  the  crop  regulated  so  as  to  command 
best  irrices  in  the  markets. 
Cherries,  as  standards,  begin  to  return  something  to  the 
grower  about  the  tenth  year,  and  attain  a  period  of  good  pro¬ 
duction  by  the  fifteenth  year,  after  which  they  will  get  bigger 
and  better  for  about  a  similar  period,  when  they  will,  like 
everything  in  nature,  decline,  or  at  most  keep  up  the  pace  to 
the  fiftieth  year.  In. a.  good  Cherry  year  an  acre,  fu'Hy  occupied 
with  trees,  will  yiel_^.fl.bout  fohr  tons,  of  the  value  of  £100. 
Dwarf  CiiERRiES.''"bear  remuneratively  by  the  seventh  year, 
acquire  best  production  about  the  twelfth  year,  and  remain 
profitable  for  twenty-five  or  thirty  years.  Ihe  trees  are  very 
prolific  when  on  the  Mahaleb  stock,  as  they  sliould  be,  and 
produce  is  the  same  as  from  standard  trees,  but  price  from  better 
quality  is  higher. 
Filbert  and  Cob  Nut  Trees  commence  bearing  profitably 
about  the  fifth  year,  and  in  the  eighth  year  the  grower  begins 
to  get  a  fair  return  for  outlay,  often  not  more  than  cost  of  trees 
and  planting ;  otherwise  the  preparation  of  the  land,  manuring 
trees,  and  planting  is  about  £2  per  acre.  An  average  crop  is 
about  8cwt  per  acre,  and  the  nuts  meet  a  really  sale  at  prices 
ranging  from  6d.  to  Is.  per  pound,  or  £22  4s.  to  £44  8s.  per 
acre. 
Mixed  Plantations  are  much  in  vogue.  Strawberry,  Rasp¬ 
berry,  Red  and  Black  Currants,  and  Gooseberry  are  grown  with 
Apple,  Plum,  and  Pear  trees,  usually  half-standards,  over  them, 
and  sometimes  Apple  and  Plum  trees  have  one  nut-bush  between 
each  Apple  and  Plum  tree  in  the  line,  and  two  rows  of  Currants 
or  Gooseberries  between  the  rows  of  trees.  The  idea  is  to  make 
the  most  of  the  land,  secure  early  returns,  and  have  something 
to  sell  during  the  whole  of  the  fruit  season.  Green  Gooseberries 
are  first  readj^  for  picking;  then  follow  Strawberries,  Rasp¬ 
berries,  Red  and  Black  Currants,  Plums,  Damsons  (the  plantation 
being  usually  surrounded  with  Damson  trees).  Apples,  and  nuts. 
The  outlay  for  the  mixed  plantation  is  about  £35,  and  the  full 
gross  returns  in  good  years  reach  £70  per  annum. 
Fruit  Trees  on  Grass  Land,  though  less  frequent  than 
formerly,  are  still  planted,  and  on  good  soils  pay,  especially  | 
Apples  and  Cherrie.s.  The  outlay  is  about  £15  per  acre,  and 
when  the  trees  are  in  good  production,  about  the  fifteenth  year, 
as  much  as  £60  per  acre  has  been  cleared  by  the  planter  in  a 
year.  The  grass  is  valuable,  and  when  fed  off  by  sheep  supplied 
with  corn  or  cake  the  ground  suffers  no  impoverishment. 
The  foreshown  implies  a  capital  needed  by  the  fruit  farmer 
of  not  le.ss  than  £3  per  acre,  and  if  indulging  in  dwarf  trees 
the  capital  should  be  £65  to  £70  per  acre.  These  respectively 
embrace  the  cost  of  preparation,  planting,  and  cultivation,  untif 
there  is  remunerative  return.  The  working  capital  to  stock  a 
fruit  farm  already  planted,  as  should  be  by  the  landlord  when 
the  tenant  has  no,  or  a  short,  lease,  is  £20  per  acre  for  ordinary 
bush  fruits  and  half  or  standard  trees  on  the  mixed  plantation 
system,  and,  if  dwarf  trees,  the  working  capital  ought  to  be 
£40  to  £50  per  acre. — G.  Abbey. 
Earliest  Forced  Figs  in  Pots. 
The  fir.st  swelling  of  the  Figs  on  the  trees  started  in  Novem¬ 
ber  and  December  will  soon  be  completed.  They  remain  sta¬ 
tionary  for  some  time  for  flowering,  and  require  careful  treat¬ 
ment  ;  therefore,  keep  the  temperature  steady,  and  if  mild  it 
may  be  60deg  to  65deg  at  night,  but  if  cold  5deg  less  is  safe  ; 
65deg  artificiall.v  by  day  suffices  when  cold  and  dull,  70deg  to 
75deg  with  gleams  of  sun,  and  lOdeg  to  lodeg  advance  from  sun 
heat  will  ensure  steady  development  without  producing  weak  or 
attenuated  growth.  Although  syringing  is  necessary  to  keep 
down  red  spider  it  must  not  be  excessive,  for  if  wet  gets  in  at 
the  eye  when  open  for  flowering  certain  fungoid  germs  will  find 
a  nidus  on  the  decay  or  damage'  thus  set  up,  and  the  fruit  will 
decay  at  the  apex  instead  of  fully  swelling  and  ripening.  To 
encourage  the  swelling  of  the  fruit  top-dress  with  rich  compost, 
renewing  at  short  intervals.  Supply  tepid  liquid  manure  steadily 
to  the  roots,  always  giving  it  in  sufficient  quantity  to  pass 
through  the  pots.  Avoid  crowding  the  growths,  stopping  at  the 
fifth  leaf,  tying  out  the  shoots  as  the  growth  advances,  and 
cutting  out  superfluous  shoots,  or,  preferably,  preventing  them 
by  rubbing  them  off  whilst  quite  young.  The  fruit,  to  have 
colour  and  flavour,  should  have  full  exposure  to  light  and  a, 
circulation  of  rather  dry  air. 
Planted-out  Fig  Trees. 
Disbudding  will  need  to  be  practised  on  trees  started  at  the 
New  Year,  rubbing  off  all  those  not  required,  pinching  spurs  at 
about  the  fiDh  leaf  so  as  to  secure  second  crop  fruit.  Train  the 
successional  shoots  and  leaders  their  full  length  when  short- 
jointed  and  sturdy,  as  stopping  only  induces  side  shoots,  and  the 
finest  fruits  are  borne  on  extensions.  Trees  in  restricted 
borders  will  need  liberal  supplies  of  nourishment,  encouraging 
roots  from  the  collar  by  top-dressings  of  rich  compost,  extending 
the  materials  as  the  roots  advance;  these  can  be  fed  with 
fertilisers  or  liquid  manure.  Syringe  the  trees  twice  a  day  in 
favourable  weather,  damping  only  on  dull  days. 
Young  Fig  Trees  In  Pots. 
Shift  those  intended  for  next  yeaFs  early  forcing,  potting 
firmly.  Shade  slightly  from  bright  sunshine  for  a  few  days 
until  they  show  signs  of  having  taken  to  the  new  soil,  when 
they  should  bo  exposed  to  light.  Pinch  the  growths  so  as  to 
ensure  a  sturdy,  well-furnished  head,  training  with  a  single 
stem  of  8in  to  12in. — G.  A. 
Melons  in  Pits  and  Frames. 
Plants  to  have  the  shoots  trained  over  the  surface  of  the  bed 
being  stopped  at  the  second  leaf  before  or  after  planting  out 
will  result  in  two  or  more  shoots,  as  growths  sometimes  spring 
from  the  seed  leaves,  and  these  in  turn  being  pinched  will  give 
four  shoots,  two  to  be  taken  to  the  front  and  two  to  the  back  of 
tlie  frame'.  Other  growths  that  appear  near  the  collar  of  the 
plant  should  be  rubbed  off  ivhile  young,  not  encouraging  any 
lateral  growths  nearer  the  stem  than  6in,  as  it  is  important  to 
keep  the  necks  clear.  Stop  the  principal  shoots  when  within  a 
foot  of  the  sides  of  the  frame  or  pit,  thus  throwing  vigour  into 
the  laterals,  and  the  growths  must  not  be  crowded.  The  laterals’ 
will  show  fruit  at  the  second  or  third  joint,  and  they  should  be 
pinched  one  joint  beyond  the  fruit,  but  not  until  the  blossom 
is  fertilised.  Little  water  will  be  required ;  nevertheless,  main¬ 
tain  the  soil  in  a  moist  state,  but  avoid  a  saturated  condition. 
Cover  the  lights  with  double  mats  at  night,  and  see  that  the 
linings  are  regularly  attended  to,  renewing  as  required.  Prepare 
materials  for  fresh  beds  and  linings.  Three  parts  Oak,  Spanish 
Chestnut,  or  Beech  leaves,  and  one  part  stable  litter  make  tho 
best  beds,  mixing  the  materials  about  a  fortnight  before  it  is 
desired  to  make  the  beds.  In  a  few  days  it  will  be  seen  whether 
there  is  moisture  to  ensure  fermentation;  if  not,  turn  the  whole 
and  sprinkle  with  water  or  liquid  manure,  and  when  a  good  heat 
turn  the  heap  outside  to  inside,  two  or  three  turnings  being 
required  at  intervals  of  about  four  days.  Maintain  the  bottom 
heat  at  80deg  to  85deg,  or  even  90deg,  taking  care,  however, 
to  prevent  overheating. — A, 
