Small Fruits. 375 



cents to $1.25 per crate, gross sales, the average being about $1 per 

 crate, 



I stated in the letter referred to, that strawberries could not be 

 grown for less than $1.50 per crate gross. So I figure it out that not a 

 grower west of the Mississippi river has made any clear money on straw- 

 berries the past three years, excepting possibly on the mall patches grown 

 for local markets and sold by the producer direct to consumer. 



Beginning with the preparation of the soil, the purchase of plants, 

 planting, cultivation and mulching the berry patch for winter protection, 

 it will cost the grower from $50 to $55 per acre to grow strawberries. 

 The average product of the large commercial berry grower is about two 

 hundred crates per acre. More men grow less than two hundred crates. 



There are exceptional seasons, like those of 1891 and 1897, where 

 the product was over two hundred crates per acre, but during the interval 

 between the good seasons the berry crops run from a third to a half and 

 two-thirds of a crop. Last year there was only half crop, but owing to 

 the largely increased acreage in two or three localities, where from forty 

 to seventy cars are shipped daily, prices have not advanced, even in 

 seasons when there were half crops of berries. 



So I will stand by my statement, that $1.50 per crate is the price 

 that should be maintained from year t'o year if a berry grower would 

 make an even race with ordinary grain and stock farming. 



Now, to be fully understood, I may repeat that at the price of $1 

 a day for labor, preparing one acre of soil for the plants, the cost of eight 

 thousand plants, setting plants, cultivation and three tons old hay or 

 straw at $3.50 per ton for winter protection and plants at $2.50 per one 

 thousand it foots up over $50 per acre. So my estimate of the expenses 

 of crates, boxes, picking and hauling to the railway station is $1 per crate' 

 to get a crate of berries laid down in express or refrigerator car. Then 

 if the berry growers' returns are $1.50 per crate clear of transportation 

 and commission, and the yield is two hundred crates per acre, this makes 

 a profit of $100 per acre. 



Now, if the berry growers Avill cut down their acreage within the 

 bounds of reason and the demands of the market, remuneration for labor 



