468 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



I keep all varieties separate, and marlc the name of each variety on 

 the crate. In picking it is very essential that the berries look nice, and 

 that they are not packed so tightly as to mash the berry, as we place 

 one box on top of another, and I find in getting them to their destination. 

 If they are tightly packed, the skin is often broken and the juice will 

 run out, and one berry thus mashed may spoil an entire crate. 



Our principal market this year was Indianapolis. We did not send 

 very many berries to Chicago this season. The markets vary in different 

 years, and some years they are much better than others. Indianapolis 

 was a very good market this year. 



I have made no preparation for this article, having had no oppor- 

 tuity to do so, but I Avant the fruit growers of southern Indiana to par- 

 ticipate in the good to be achieved by the cultivation of this berry. I 

 have heard a number of Indianapolis people praise the southern Indiana 

 berry very highly, and they have acquired quite a reputation in Indian- 

 apolis. The people there scramble to get our berries, and 1 am proud 

 of southern Indiana. 



Now, I might say further, that I mulch as soon as the ground freezes. 

 Deep mulching keeps the plants from 'heaving in the winter and will 

 protect the berries in the early drouth and cause them to burn better. 



Strawberries have been a great benefit to this community. The cul- 

 ture will give employment to every man, woman and child who wishes 

 to work. In 1901, Avhich was the last year we had a full crop, three 

 of my neighbors and myself paid for picking strawberries alone the 

 sum of $1,440.00; and there are a number of others in this locality who 

 grow as extensively as we do. 



Eight years ago, when I bought my small place, going in debt for 

 the greater portion or It, my rriends toid me it was foolish of me to 

 set strawberries when nearly everybody was quitting the business. I 

 remembered then, what our late Governor Mount said at one of our 

 Institutes in regard to sheep raising. He said, "The time to buy is when 

 everybody wants to sell; and the time to sell is when everybody wants 

 to buy." I am glad to tell you that I have been successful in those eight 

 years. 



Now, I do not want to mislead anybody here, and cause him to think 

 that all he has to do is to set a patch of berries and get rich; for there 

 is great expense in getting a crate of berries to Chicago, and that is 

 the market upon which we must depend. 



I will give you the items of expense on a crate of berries from Duncan 

 to Chicago, beginning with the first thing we have to buy, which is the 

 crate, 16 cents; picking, 3G cents; shipping, 32 cents; cartage, 2 cents. 

 If the crate sells for $1.00. commission will be 10 cents. Total expense 

 of shipping. 96 cents, which leaves us four cents per crate for our work 

 and other small expenses. 



Moreover, we can not do with our berries as the farmers do with their 



