Summer Meeting. 51 



I would plow land deep in late fall or early spring, harrow and 

 drag until well pulverized, then take a one-horse diamond, lay off rows 

 eight feet apart by turning a furrow out each- way; loosen up the subsoil 

 with a subsoiler or a long shovel plow, going two or three times in the 

 furrow made by the diamond. After this is done, cultivate up and down 

 the furrow with a one-horse cultivator or harrow so as to partly fill the 

 furrow, then you are ready for the plants. 



I prefer one-year old root cutting plants to any, but good sucker 

 plants will give good results if properly set and given thorough cultiva- 

 tion, especially the first year. 



- I dig plants and heel in close at hand, taking out only a few at a 

 time. I put a plant every three feet in the furrow made by diamond plow. 

 I aim to plant about two or three inches below the surface, which will 

 insure against drouth. I have a boy to hold the plants in position while 

 I, with a hoe, fill in the soil and tramp it down. In this way I can set 

 about one thousand plants per day. 



I always plant in early spring, after which I go over the field with 

 a fine tooth cultivator to loosen up the soil and leave a fine mulch to 

 protect the plants in case of drouth. I cultivate after every rain until 

 about the first of September. 



I usually ^row potatoes or cowpeas between the rows the first year, 

 after that the space is unoccupied till about the ist of August, when oats 

 or cowpeas are sowed broadcoast for a winter mulch. 



I pinch back new growth when about thirty inches in height which 

 causes them to branch out low and be, when trimmed in spring, about 

 four feet high — a very good height for convenience in picking. I leave 

 from two to three canes every three feet in the row. Early in spring cut 

 back branches to about ten inches, remove old canes and burn them to 

 kill any insects or fungus diseases that may be in them. 



So far I have had but little trouble with either; have found a few 

 cane borers which I take out and destroy at once. Have found some 

 rust, mostly among the Erie which is a poor berry and should never be 

 planted if you want any profit ; the rust I dig out and burn. For an- 

 thracnose I am spraying with dry dust, bluestone and lime. 



For profit plant the Snyder and Taylor, and if you have a good local 

 market, a few Early Harvest. Some of my customers ask for these 

 calling them little seedless berries. To my taste they are very poor in 

 quality. 



I market my berries in 24-quart crates, and have never sold for 

 less than 90 cents per crate and as high as $2,00 per crate. At those 

 prices I realize from 75 to 100 dollars per acre. I do not count picking 

 and marketing, as that is done without any hired help. I put none but 



