92 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



laborer, who have a liltle place of their own, or one that they 

 occupy, on which can be found a small plot of land which might be 

 devoted to the culture of small fruits. Manv of these little warden 

 spots are grown up to grass and weeds and allowed to run to waste. 

 If the owner would devote a little spare time to the preparation of a 

 fruit garden, set a few grape vines a foot or two from the fence on 

 the sunny side, eight feet apart, plant a row of blackberries and 

 raspberries on the one side, of currants and gooseberries on the 

 other, with the strawberry bed in the center, or any other arrange- 

 ment to suit the taste, in a year or two with the proper care of the 

 same he would have fruits to adorn his table fit for a prince. They 

 will last about three months in the year, or perhaps longer, as we 

 pick the first strawberries in June and blackberries long after the 

 first frost makes its appearance in September. The most delicate 

 and luscious kinds can be grown. They are not found iu the 

 market because too soft for tiansportation, and may be picked fresh 

 from the vines at any time the owner chooses to use them. It 

 would cost a few dollars to make a start in this direction at first, 

 and will be attended by some failures and discouragement, but with 

 the experience of a season or two, with an observance of the habits 

 and proper training of the plants, vines and bushes, success is 

 assured. The work of an hour or two each day will soon become 

 one of pleasure. As the growing vines flourish and develop, the 

 children when home from school can lend a helping hand and feel 

 that they have an interest in the little fruit garden. The surplus 

 can be sold and add not a little to the family purse, and frequently 

 will pay many times over for the trouble and care of the plants. 



Sometimes immense yields are given on these gardens, that would 

 be almost impossible to get at the same rate per acre from plants 

 grown in the open field. Some of the best patrons of our agricul- 

 tural exhibitions and readers of the agricultural papers are these 

 amateur fruitgrowers, who are enthusiastic in their work and always 

 interested in the claims, of new varieties for public favor. In regard 

 to discussion on the different berries that we designate as small 

 fruits. I do not claim to advance any new ideas or oflfer any special 

 instructions. It is a subject upon which many of you could throw 

 more light than myself. It has been discussed every year at our 

 fruit growers' conventions, so that it is difficult to bring out any new 

 points. I can only tell you in my practical way something of my 

 experience with the diflferent varieties, with now and then some 



