ENGLISH ORCHARDS.
In at least six English counties we have evidence that almost the oldest of rural industries in England is steadily advancing (and but for "the tied house" it would advance much more rapidly). Not only is more cider being produced, but more farmers, especially in Herefordshire and thereabouts are planting the better sort of perry pears and cider apples. Eager research workers have rediscovered almost all the old sorts of both apples and pears that ever existed in the Western counties, notably "the three counties" of Hereford, Gloucester, and Worcester. Special nurseries are now being used both for research and for growing trees on behalf of farmers. In the course of this work one man of science has made an interesting advance in the art of grafting. The old-time gardener grafted in or about April and budded in July. Some nurse an almost superstitious belief in precise dates within these months. It is now proved that grafting may be success- fully performed through a long succession of months, and the grafts transferred like buds direct from one tree to the other without delay. Again, in hybridizing these apples, which have their own habits of growth and production, the differences of date of flowering have been overcome. Pollen from an early sort can be successfully preserved for as long as three weeks or more, for the purpose of fertilizing a later sort. The advance of science is continuous, even in these infinitely old county industries, and is of practical value in the orchard.
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