310 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Perhaps the followiiif? fifteen varieties will give you something oat 

 of the lot that will be jast what you want on your particular soil, so 

 that after testing them all in a small way you will know just what to 

 grow commercially: Pearl, Gaudy, Haverland, Saunders, Bubach, 

 Crescent, Greenville, Parker Eirle, Wartield, Leader, Muskingum, 

 Lovett, Brandywine, Speece and Shuster's Gem. For this particular 

 section I do not think too much praise can be given the Speece, Comet, 

 Greenville and Shuster's Gem, for shipping as well as very productive 

 varieties. 



It is said that the plant indicates by its leaf what is the shade of 

 color, size, shape and quality of the berry. The lighter the color of 

 the leaf the lighter the color of the fruit. The leaf also indicates the 

 size of the berry. An irregular berry is indicated by an irregular leaf. 

 Leaves on the same plant will vary considerably, no two being exactly 

 alike, but their general form will be the same. Also the relative pro- 

 ductiveness of different varieties can be told by the number of serra- 

 tures^or saw-teeth on the leaf. The greater the number of serratures 

 ^he greater the number of berries will be produced on an individual 

 plant. 



Circumstances must be taken into consideration whether we take 

 the second crop off of a plantation or not. Many think that it i» 

 cheaper to plant a new bed than to try to renovate and cultivate for a 

 second crop. If you decide to grow the second crop, plow two fur- 

 rows on top the matted row, let lie a few days and then harrow length- 

 wise and then crosswise until dirt is all worked well into the rows. It 

 is important to do this work immediately after the first crop of fruit i& 

 removed. 



Picking and marketing the fruit is the business end of the whole 

 work. Few of us grow berries for pleasure, and to get money out of 

 the crop takes careful study and watchfulness. Almost any one can 

 grow and market berries at home, but when you are growing for a- 

 distant market, the berries must be picked carefully by the stem and 

 laid into the box without handling the berry. Have your overseers 

 see that no picker handles more than one berry at a time, and only 

 handles it by the stem. If the gloss is broken the berry will soon sour 

 and decay. The fruit should always be put in new, clean packages^ 

 never using a box the second time. You should pick every red berry 

 every day, and not allow them to get too ripe. We have had a few 

 days each year when we pick the patch over tw^ice in twenty-four 

 hours. Round the boxes up as full as you can get them without mash- 

 ing when one box is set on top of another. Green leaves put on top 

 of the crate before nailing the cover on is a great help in shipping long 



