COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 399 



SMALL FRUIT FOB THE FARMER. 



I'.V II. I.. Im>\n, JACKSONVILLE. 



I have been invited by one of the members of your Society to 

 talk a little about small fruits for the farmers. Of course in 

 handling the subject I shall be brief, as the farmer ueeds bnt 

 few varieties, and these of the hardiest kinds and easiest eul- 

 ture. For market, we would pursue different methods of 

 cultivation, and also plant a larger Dumber of varieties, Buch as 

 the markets require, and bring the best results for profit. 



The strawberry yields fairly well in mosl localities, the yield 

 being proportionate to the carefulness of culture and fertility of 

 ground. It is best to plow the ground intruded for straw- 

 berries in the fall, as late as possible before freezing weather 

 Bets in, which destroys many insects that might be injurious t<> 

 plant life, and Leaves the ground in better condition to work 

 next spring, thus enabling you to Bet your plants earlier. The 

 earliest Bet are generally the best, making better growth, and 

 being better aide to resist dry weather. In our locality, the 

 Crescent, fertilized with the Capt. dark, or some other strong 

 pollenizer, gives the best results. 



Plant these varieties in alternate rows, having at least th 

 and a half feet between the rows, and plants in row- eighteen 

 inches apart. Plant in <_ r round freshly plowed and finely pul- 

 verized; also as smooth and level as possible. You cannot have 

 your ground too well prepared, the success of planting will 

 mainly depend on this point . Do not touch the ground unless 

 in the right condition; after planting, go along the row and 

 >ress with hand-roller, or tread with feet, the Bide of each 

 i>lant. When the plants commence to grow, keep them well 

 lord, and cultivate the mound between row-.. We cultivate 

 after every rain, until the ground freezes. I do not mean to 

 restrict you to two varieties, as tastes differ. If you want 

 large berries, try some Bubach No. 5, Cumberland Triumph, 

 Miner or Sharpless; there are plenty to pick from, and each 

 year brings out new candidates for public favor. 



I would recommend for black raspberries, the Tyler and 

 Ohio, their season being in the order named; for the red 

 varieties, the Turner and Brandywine. these being hardy and 

 reliable varieties. We plant in row- eight feet apart, and 

 thirty-six inches in row. Plant the black cap raspberries in 

 furrow-, covering with about live inches of earth, hoeing in the 

 earth as the plants grow, so by the time your furrow is level 

 with the ground, your plants are six inches deep, and are not as 

 likely to heave out by the action of the frost. After the first 

 season, the plants must be topped when two feet high, in order 

 to throw out laterals which produce the crop for next year. 



