218 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUKAL 



perhaps a night, then to be carted to some other depot, to be tumbled 

 and tusseled all the way to Galesburg, where, in hot weather, they 

 arrive in that conglomerate condition that can fill an order for either 

 jam, jelly or ivine. 



I presume you are ready to answer me by hurling a whole train 

 of refrigerator cars at me as a knock-down argument. All right. 

 Give me two or three trains, and I will see that they are distributed 

 over other routes than the Illinois Central Railroad, if needed. But 

 I opine that if berries were shipped by other routes direct to the 

 consumers they would not need refrigerators, but if they did, other 

 roads would furnish them. 



Let me suggest that the fruit-growers along the line of the 

 Illinois Central unite in paying the expenses of a good, active man 

 to go, just before the season of shipping begins, to the different 

 towns throughout the northwestern portion of the State and make 

 arrangements with the grocerymen and dealers to handle a certain 

 number of crates per day through the season, and ship direct to 

 them. I believe this would be more satisfactory to all but Chicago 

 commission men. Surely something ought to be done, for all the 

 charms and pleasures of the business combined will not keep the pot 

 boiling nor make plethoric the purse, both of which are about as 

 essential to the horticulturalist as any other class of men, and they 

 are surely as deserving. 



Then put your heads together, brethren, and see if you can't 

 evolve some method by which the growing of small fruits may be 

 made remuuerative. Cat loose from old fogyism; abandon the line 

 of the Illinois Central Railroad as the only base of supplies; invade 

 the enemy's country and forage upon him direct; send out your 

 scouts and set your picket lines; and if there are none brave enough 

 to come out to battle, send a flag of truce into every railroad station 

 and make terms based upon fair dealing — you to furnish good fruit, 

 in full-sized quarts or pints, in good condition; they to pay a fair 

 price for them. Try this, and I believe we will soon see the end of 

 rotten berries sent out of Chicago all over the country, at a loss to 

 the grower, at a loss to the consumers, and a profit only to commis- 

 sion men. 



Prof. Burrill — This plan of keeping back strawberries by mulch- 

 ing has not, as far as I have observed, been a success. Has any one 

 pi'esent had any experience? 



Dr. Hall — In reference to shipping direct to the consumer, Mr. 

 Browne, of Alton, tells me that he can ship to Chicago and back 

 cheaper than to have the fruit put off at points along the road. 



A. L. Hay — I have had strawberries a week earlier by mulch- 

 ing. I don't think you can keep them back in that way, and don't 

 think we should keep them back, but let them ripen as early as pos- 

 sible before the drouth comes on. 



