OPPORTUNITY 41 



Two acres of blackberries (Snyder) have in the same series of years 

 exceeded one hundred dollars ($100.00) per acre, properly cultivated and 

 pruned. But they must be taken care of. One blackberry patch that 

 has been let run wild fcir the same length of time has been like a wild boy 

 scarcely worth the raising. 



The raspberry has been the most uncertain crop of any of the small 

 fruits. Yet the high price they command, and the occasional big crop 

 makes a fairly good average for a series of years, and as they ripen be- 

 tween the strawberry and the blackberry, and they are a great assistance 

 in holding customers through the season I would advise planting an acre 

 of raspberries, Cumberland, in the black caps and Cardinals for red 

 berries. 



Then the balance of the farm can be divided up for garden, hen yard, 

 and cow pasture. For hens, cows, and bees are a necessary adjunct to 

 Horticulture, as you need the bldies to eat the bugs and worms that 

 destroy the fruit. 



What berry is in its proper element unless smothered in cream. And 

 the busy bee will not alone add quantity to your fruit supply by aiding 

 polinization, but they will also add to your income, and supply the family 

 larder with wholesome sweets. In fact, ten acres of land can be made to 

 bring a larger income than lifty per cent of the railroad men receive, 

 more than ninety per cent of what our teachers are paid and more than 

 any of our day laborers receive. And then you are your own boss, not 

 subject to the dictates of a Hill or a Gould, neither to the caprices of some 

 school board, nor an oppressive superintendent of works who measures 

 his salary by the amount of extra work he can exact from his men. The 

 days of strenuous labor will extend from March to September and you 

 will have the balance of the year for recreation, and for improvement of 

 mind and body and to enjoy home. A blessing you will seldom possess 

 as a salaried man. 



As to sleeting fruit land it should always be high and well drained, 

 a North slope for all berries. A South slope for grapes. An East slope 

 for apples, and a West slope if you would be a bankrupt. Never select 

 flat and low land for any of the berries, even the blackberry that delights 

 in summer showers can not live with wet feet. 



The opportunities are not alone to the man of limited means in South 

 East, Nebraska but the capitalist may invest with assurance of big inter- 

 est on his money. Every degree of latitude has its season for furnishing 

 berries, and neither Texas, Oklahoma, nor South ^Missouri can monopolize 

 the business. Twenty car loads at Falls City would sell for more money 

 per case than though there are only two or three hundred cases grown. 



Every town in Nebraska of one hundred people or more will usg 

 from twenty to several hundred cases of raspberries and blackberri 

 The market for them is almost unlimited, but it requires less applicatii 

 of brains and brawn to haul a load of hogs to town and take the i- i 

 the buyer sees fit to give than it does to be your own salesman and make 



