iNDIAiSTA HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. SSY 



THE CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS IN GROWING BUSH FRUITS. 



BY D. F. MAISH, FRANKFORT. 



The conditions attending the successful production of bush fruits, 

 such as raspberry, blackberry, currant and gooseberry, are not very un- 

 lilie those attending the production of all other fruits and farm crops. 

 There are some special adaptations that should be observed in regard to 

 soil, location, etc., but we believe the bush fruits will succeed over a larger 

 range of territory than those of any other species. They are also a safe 

 and profitable crop to grow for either home use or for the market. The 

 application of good, ordinary common sense to the selection of soil, loca- 

 tion and varieties, coupled with perseverance and industry, is certain to 

 bring good results in growing any of the bush fruits. If you desire to 

 grow these fruits for market purposes, you should study the needs of 

 your locality and if there is not already a demand for such fruit it is 

 better to begin on a small scale and "work up" your trade until you have 

 reached your capacity. The facts are that there is always a good, healthy 

 demand for these fruits all over the country, and except in some unusual 

 seasons, at good living prices. Don't try to grow fruits for market if 

 you have a dislike for the business or if you have no adaptation to it. It 

 takes a good salesman to get best results from the business. The produc- 

 tion of fruits of the highest quality is the greatest help in reaching the 

 best markets and highest prices. Study, think, work. These are some 

 of the conditions of success. No man will succeed at this or anything else 

 if his mind is not set to his work, and he is easily switched off onto some- 

 thing different. To be more specific, we wish to notice a few of the 

 essentials to successful fruit culture as relates to the soil, the climate and 

 the man. These three, with cultivation and selection of varieties added, 

 we believe to be the conditions upon which success or failure depends. 



We all understand that without soil we can not proceed to grow any- 

 thing in plant life. We are also aware that extremes of heat and cold 

 and moisture are not conducive to plant growth of any kind, much less to 

 bush fruits. We know, too, that the man, the real thinking, acting man, 

 is that upon which most of all depends for success. Crops must be 

 planted, cared for, and harvested in turn. Proper varieties must also be 

 selected. 



The Soil.— The soil best adapted to bush fruits is one that is neither 

 too light nor too heavy. Well drained clay soils put in a proper state of 

 fertility by the frequent use of barnyard manures and clover and culti- 

 vated in some hoed crop, sweet corn, potatoes or beans, makes an excellent 

 site for any of the the bush fruits, and, in fact, fruits of all kinds. Sugar 

 tree land is considered ideal fruit soil in Indiana, If you haven't sugar 



