Fruit Culture. By J. Cheal. (Bell and Sons.)—Mr. Cheal tells
his readers how to plant orchards and small fruit-gardens, how to manage them, and what returns may be expected from them. A second part is addressed to " Private Growers," a third is devoted to that too-fruitful subject, "Insect Pests and Diseases." The forty counties of England contain something less than a quarter of a million of acres between them, Kent leading the way with 33,497, of which nearly a half is devoted to small fruits. The cider counties come next, Devon, Hereford, Somerset, and Worcestershire having about one hundred thousand between them. In the other counties the culture does not reach any great importance, except, indeed, in Middlesex, where out of the small available acreage 6,775 are given to it. The returns look favour- able enough. Plums and cherries appear to yield as much as £90 per acre ; gooseberries, which are lowest in the list, £20. But we see no account of the cost of carriage. This varies t .o much to be stated. But it is the great hindrance to the profitable cultivation of fruit, unless the railway companies are much libelled.
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