satisfactory results becoming known, a cry in favour of Fruit Growing has been raised, and many are considering the advisability of embarking in the industry. This chapter will, therefore, be devoted to giving information which has been gathered from experience and is calculated to guide intending growers; also to assist those already engaged in agriculture who, during this period of transition, may be asking, "What shall we do with our land?"

Since England has become the great trading and banking centre of the world, people have too often been led to suppose that it doesn't matter very much what we do with our land; so many sources of income have been opened up on all sides that men have lost sight of the fact that the land is still the most important factor of our national wealth and well-being, and that not only does the annual revenue of the country vary by millions with a good or bad use of the land, but that in various ways the happiness-aye, the very lives of the people are affected thereby.

What then can we do with our land? The public mind is just now more open (than it has been for many years) to the reception of new ideas concerning this question, great responsibility therefore rests with all who venture to give advice on the subject.

Bearing this in mind, the writer, whilst advocating an extension of fruit growing, would point out that no invariable rule can be laid down. It must always be necessary to grow such animal and vegetable productions as may best suit the soil, climate, means of transit, market and other local conditions, taking care to bring to one's aid a knowledge of science and the constant study of the various developments of one's environments and the world's activities.

Although fruit growing is being profitably conducted as a distinct industry, attention is here directed to it as an adjunct to mixed farming rather than as a substitute for it. It would be idle to suppose that fruit growing can prove a panacea for all the ills of the farmer, but it may aid him greatly in his perplexity.

A glance at the Board of Agriculture's invaluable statistics will show that the importation of such fruit as can be grown in this country is small in comparison with the foreign supplies of corn, cattle, dairy produce, etc. It may be argued from this fact that the foreigner is not so well able to compete with us in fruit as in other produce, he has not so large a surplus to spare, it costs more for freight, and is more liable to loss and waste in transit.

Enormous quantities of strawberries and other soft fruits are now grown in England for immediate consumption, and growers need not fear foreign competition in this, as such fruits cannot be put on our markets from abroad in sufficiently good condition. Free trade and the foreign bounty system having provided us with cheap sugar, England has become the world's jam factory, very large and increasing demands upon fruit growers for supplies arising also from this source.

Some may say, "Yes; but the supply will soon be greater than the demand." Many thought so twenty years ago, but the demand has gone on increasing more rapidly than the supply; and as growers, by improved methods, are able to place fruit on the markets at reduced rates, a larger and practically unlimited consumption is induced.

It is still difficult, even when there is a plethora in the markets, to obtain soft fruits in some parts of London, and in many districts in England it is impossible to do so.

During a brief glut in strawberries last season, the writer was only obtaining a shilling per peck of twelve pounds, but on the same day, two persons in London told him of having had to pay tenpence and a shilling per pound punnet. Here let us notice the great need for increased facilities in distribution-the question is a difficult one, but cries loudly for solution. The arrangements lately made by the Great Eastern Railway Company for the delivery of produce is certainly a step in the right direction, and growers should be quick to avail themselves of the advantage offered. Reduced rates and better arrangements for the transmission of small consignments should also be sought at the hands of other railway companies and by the General Post Office.

Whilst referring to markets, it may be well to mention that many large growers obtain a considerable. increase in their returns by selling their own produce, or by deputing a son or trusted employé to act as salesman, and smaller growers might often, with advantage, adopt a similar plan by co-operating.

In taking up land for fruit growing, it is advisable to secure the freehold, particularly in the case of small holdings, but rather than be handicapped by insufficiency of working capital through an expenditure on purchase, it is better to become a tenant, if a suitable lease can be arranged.

The undermentioned table, drawn up by Mr. Cecil H. Hooper, at the Horticultural College, Kent, may be taken as a reliable guide in deciding what tenure is desirable for various kinds of fruits. Many who are able to rent land at thirty shillings or forty shillings per acre, consider that, with a twenty-one years' lease, they do better than by purchasing the land. One must, however,

be guided by what land is obtainable, its price, rental, tenure, and the capital at command.

Whatever opinion may prevail with regard to large or small holdings (the writer's opinion is that there must always be room for both, according to the various conditions already alluded to) there can be no doubt that fruit growing for profit may be successfully conducted on a large or a small scale. It is an industry which lends. itself to inextensive work as do few other occupations.

There is always a special market for high class fruit, and it is surprising what a large sum per acre may be realised for such; it is therefore possible for a small grower to concentrate his skilful labour upon a very limited area, with remunerative results. Small growers should, however, aim at producing other necessaries for home consumption, and this surely will apply to all small holdings, thus providing as far as possible for home requirements. In comparing the incomes of farmers with those derived from other sources, this provision is generally overlooked.

Fruit growing may also be profitably carried on by

professional men and others having spare time; an acquaintance of the writer (a medical man) obtained a considerable addition to his income by growing choice. fruits, his wife and daughters deriving much pleasure from the assistance they were able to render. Fruit growing, whether under glass or outdoor, may undoubtedly be regarded as a suitable occupation for women, as a special business or in conjunction with home duties.

It should be observed that profit or loss in fruit cultivation depends greatly upon the care and interest of the workers, and this points to the industry as one specially calculated to succeed under a system of cooperation, or more correctly speaking, profit sharing.

For the sake of order and the convenience of our readers we have so far dealt principally with economic principles relating to fruit growing, but having endeavoured to show why fruit should be grown, it may be well to proceed to explain how it may be profitably cultivated, although for obvious reasons my readers must be referred to other publications for cultural instruction.

In selecting a farm or small holding one should try to get near a railway station, canal, port, or other means of communication, the cost of cartage will otherwise be excessive; proximity to market has also to be considered, though at present fruit is often sent from Kent to Liverpool, Manchester, and similar long distances; it is, perhaps, more important to have access to some large centre, whence stable manure can be readily obtained, for if the grower knows nothing of the chemistry of the soil he had better rely upon stable manure and some such stimulant as nitrate of soda.

Except in woodland which has been lately cleared fruit can seldom be profitably grown without liberal supplies of fertilizers, and these should as a rule be