INDIANA IIOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. -'5:55 



al>out It the more I see that there are two sides, and this is a question 

 that will solicit discussion. I hardly know what to say on this question 

 for if I should say that the farmer should raise his own fruit you would 

 take me to task and say, "Why don't heV" Three-fourths of the children 

 of our country are almost starving for fruit. The parents do not provide 

 it for them. Their health, comfort and happiness suffer; but the parents 

 look at the question from a financial basis only. It might be well for a 

 farmer to be a special farmer, for one to raise hogs, another fruit, etc., 

 but the que.'Jtion is, "Would we use enough fruit if we had it to buy?" 

 ril tell you I believe it is a fact that if a farmer does not grow his own 

 fruit he will use very little of it. If the farmers would use more nice, 

 fresh fruit, there would be fewer doctor's bills. It is very expensive to- 

 buy fruit for the tal)le, I know. This season of the year our tables are 

 very scarce of fruit. There are a few apples in the country, but outside 

 of these there is scarcely anything, not even to buy. We bought some 

 strawberries this summer, but they averaged us thirty cents a quart, and 

 that is rather expensive. How many of us can afford this? I suppose I- 

 will be criticised for this statement, but we should all have strawberries. 

 I have planted them time after time, but somehow or other they don't 

 do just right; I have several things that I have to contend with along 

 this line. I think we should certainly grow a sufficient amount for the 

 table. I find there are farmers here that know a great deal about horti- 

 culture, and have fine orchards and fine fruits. Mr. Chairman, I am 

 really sorry that I did not write a paper; you know I usually come up to 

 time, and you must pardon me this time. I will noAv leave the subject for 

 your discussion. 



Mr. Snodgrass: This is my first attendance at a meeting of this kind, 

 and I am an amateur in the fruit business, and I have had experience in 

 buying fruit for family use. I have many times bought it rather than 

 grow it. I have heard a great many farmers say that they can buy their 

 fruit cheaper than they can grow it. That may be the case; they buy 

 what they use, but they do not buy what they ought to use. Now for an 

 illustration. We had strawberries thirty-seven days; we commenced to 

 use them on the 27th day of May, and had our last mess on the 4th of 

 .Tuly. We used five quarts of strawberries per day. If Ave had bought 

 these berries the bill would have been rather high, but it might have 

 saved a doctor's bill. Tliis would be a very cheap doctor's bill. This is 

 only the commencement of the fruit season. We have raspberries, black- 

 berries, and the larger fruit, etc.. the year around. If we had all the fruit 

 we ought to use it Avould probably cost us a hundred dollars a year, and 

 that is a prftty big item. Most farmers can not do this. But as has 

 been said, it is a question as to whether we should raise or buy our fruit. 

 This is an old adage: The old men and women and boys and girls run 

 nfter it, and the cliildren cry for it. Yet some people say they do Dot 



