REPORTS OF LOCAL SOCIETIES. 349 



ing pays in the increase of berries, as the plants get a more vigorous 

 growth early in the season. 



Dr. Eyno: Plow in the fall and top dress with fine, well-rotted manure. 

 Set the plants early in the spring, in rows three feet apart; cultivate 

 thoroughly and keep the ground clean until fall. Cultivate and keep clean 

 the second year. The third year the bed can not be kept quite as clean. 

 Plow under at the end of third year and reset. Strawberries can be easily 

 grown, but it is not so easy to find a good market within our reach 



A. J. Warnee: Almost any one can grow strawberries, but the market- 

 ing is the most difiicult part. The matted row is the cheapest plan. The 

 rows are more easily worked. I think that larger berries may be grown 

 by the hill system, but the cultivation involves more expense. 



A. J. Beacelin: The people of Ohio grow strawberries for market and 

 ship to Chicago and make it profitable, and I believe, with the right sys- 

 tem and management, they can be grown here and shipped at a fair profit, 



M. T. Smith: Nearly every year the Chicago market is glutted with 

 unripe strawberries, and altogether too many second-class berries, which 

 reach that market in very bad condition. This causes a break in prices. 

 Express charges and the commission often equal the price they sell for. 

 The practice of sending unripe grapes to market, early in the season, 

 results in ruining the business. When a person has eaten one bunch of 

 sour grapes, it takes a long time to get over the dislike, and such a person 

 will not often venture to try grapes again, neither will he buy them for his 

 family. Fruit of any kind should be ripe when eaten. 



A. Slade: I grow strawberries for home use and find both profit and 

 pleasure in them. I mulch or cover for winter with cornstalks. They are 

 free from foul seeds. 



L. A. Lilly: In Grand Rapids I have found the price varied according 

 to the freshness and condition of the berries. Placing berries fresh and 

 sound upon the market has much to do with the profits. 



Rev. Mr. Rawson: I grow strawberries for home use only. I think 

 they pay well for all the care and labor bestowed upon them. I endeavor 

 to keep the patch clean, free from grass and weeds. By so doing I can 

 keep a patch four or five years without resetting. 



Jared Smith : I have grown strawberries mostly for home use, and find 

 that a patch well cultivated and kept free from grass and weeds pays much 

 better than if left full of foul stuff. I think there is a good profit in grow- 

 ing small fruit for market, but the cost of transportation eats up some of 

 the profits. Perhaps some reform may be brought about in this respect 



G. H. La Fleue: If I lived on the lake shore, convenient to rail or 

 boat, I should grow strawberries and ship to Chicago or Milwaukee; but I 

 don't think we can depend upon that market for berries here. We are too 

 far from the consumer, or we have to ship by rail only; consequently they 

 do not reach those points in good, fresh condition; especially in hot 

 weather, they become jammed and look mussy and sell accordingly. 

 Freight and commission take the larger share. I think that if I lived 

 near this place and grew strawberries for market, I should not attempt to 

 ship to Chicago but should depend upon the home market — that is, sell 

 them within the limits to which they could be placed in the hands of the 

 consumer in fresh and sound condition. Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo 

 and smaller towns, and also many farmers, would buy strawberries if 

 brought to their doors. Shipping facilities and the wants of the market 



