applied so that the trees or plants get assistance after the fruit has set. When you have obtained your crop do not leave strawberry plants, for instance, to struggle with weeds and exhaustion; having made their effort they need care and cultivation whilst the flower buds for next season's crop are forming. Do not neglect bees, they can be kept at comparatively small cost or trouble, give good returns and ensure fertility by completing the pollenation of the fruit blossoms. The time cannot be far distant when local systems of sewage distributions will have to be taken into consideration in selecting a site for a fruit farm. Thinking men and women are beginning to wonder why rivers are polluted and towns filled with disease in order that an immense waste may be perpetuated. Rising ground, with a southern aspect, is generally to be preferred for fruit growing, but this is by no means a sine quá non if shelter from cold and prevailing winds can be obtained by means of plantations or otherwise. Avoid, if possible, low lying districts and valleys where frosts are apt to hang about. In deciding what to plant be guided at first by local conditions; ascertain what is most in demand and what is thriving best-neighbouring gardens and hedgerows generally afford some indication. If engaged in mixed farming, and if it be necessary to take into consideration the rotation of the crops, one may reckon on strawberry plants, which last about five years, and raspberry, about ten years, giving the quickest returns. Gooseberry trees, with an average life of twelve years, seldom fail to prove very remunerative as the fruit sells at good prices picked green, and a second market awaits it if allowed to ripen. In growing hardy fruit the fact that trees on the dwarfing (or paradise) stock give much quicker returns than those on the free (crab) stock should be borne in mind. If depending upon the London market, plant the earliest varieties of apples which will crop well, as the later varieties have to compete with large importations of Canadian, American, and French apples. Unless land has good natural drainage—a chalk or gravel subsoil or is thoroughly drained artificially, do not attempt to grow fruit upon it. A fruit farm in Mid Kent was given up two or three years ago, the trees cankered and nothing seemed to thrive; another farmer took it, and in two years has obtained most satisfactory results. "You had only to put your spade down a few inches to find out what was the matter," he said; "the ground all wet and soppy just where the fibrous roots wanted making comfortable. Fruit trees are like children, you must keep their feet warm; I put in plenty of tile drains and now no trees could be doing better." Here we have two practical farmers, one failing for the want of, another succeeding because he possesses, the knowledge of a certain principle. It is to be hoped that the rising generation will not be allowed to go forth to their work of cultivating the soil without a knowledge, however elementary, of scientific principles. The principles which underlie agriculture and horticulture are identical, and must be sought in chemistry and other sciences. By example, chemistry tells us how oxygen operates by coming into contact with various bodies, and we learn that to grow fruit successfully we must observe this principle by keeping our soils open, and allowing sufficient space around our trees and crops for oxidation. From physics we learn the law of capillary attraction, and this we must observe by keeping the surface of the soil well stirred by hoe, break, or other implement, thus in dry seasons preventing moisture from passing upwards and being carried off by evaporation. Chemistry here again comes in and informs us of the advantage derived from the broken ground leaving more surface exposed to atmospheric influences. Similarly in all the sciences, we discover certain principles which become unfailing guides to us in our work. Although many do and many will succeed in fruit growing, as in other industries, by availing themselves of the traditions of their calling, by keen observation, a natural shrewdness and perseverance, it will be readily understood how such would excel if aided by a knowledge of principles. Fungoid growths and the attacks of insect pests form an element in agriculture and horticulture which has now to be reckoned with in a way not thought of a few years ago. Whether imported from other parts of the world by increased intercommunication, or brought about by growing on a larger scale, these new conditions call for special knowledge of entomology, etc. Thus increasing claims are continually being made on the intelligence and scientific knowledge of our future growers. In this connection the desirability, the necessity of training the most intelligent, the most gifted of our sons in fruit growing and other agricultural pursuits may be urged. The cultivation of the land calls for the exercise of the highest qualities in man, and and no pursuit offers greater opportunities for an honourable and useful career. Do not let it be supposed that there are not many doing with their might all that willing hands, brave hearts, and intelligent minds find to do on the land, but we want more, many more of such. It is time that the cultivation of the land ranked with the learned professions, not only in the minds of those who are qualified by special knowledge and experience to form an opinion on the subject, but with all who have the responsibility of giving direction to the minds of those who are deciding upon their life's work. How little the importance of this consideration is realised at our seats of learning, is shown by the fact that a chair of agriculture founded at Oxford, has an existence now only in name, and that a proposal lately made to give agriculture a place its right place-at Cambridge, has called forth the protest that "the University has Imperial duties to fulfil, and therefore should not be hampered by provincial work." Has agriculture then no relation to " Imperial duties"? Many of us believe that neither England nor any other country has any more important " Imperial" interest than agriculture; and when this fact is recognized at our Universities; when our political economists realize what vast possibilities agriculture still has in store for the world; when our financiers, weary of wasting their millions or rather the millions of others-in foreign securities (sic) and worthless investments, more of our children will go forth to subdue the earth in this and other climes. These may confidently expect to enjoy a happier, brighter, and more useful existence than denizens of cities who too often can only earn a livelihood at the expense of less successful competitors, whilst the fruitgrower, the producer, whatever his difficulties and dis |
