30 NOVEMBER 1951, Page 14

In the Garden

Sir David Russell writes to ask me by what means I can maintain heavy crops of healthy fruit without spraying or artificials. I have kept geese in my orchard over many years for the dual purpose of nourishing fruits, daffodils, fritillaries and narcissus.- They have never done any harm to the flowers. J believe this is the fundamental answer. . . . The slender fluted ivory shafts of the celery with their exquisite capitals of palest green foliage still- lack the mordancy of frost to crisp them into the finest vegetable on earth. 24 hours in a tin box will tone them up.

H. J. MASSINGHAM.