IlEPOllTS OF LOCAL SOCIETIES. 335 



INGHAM C0U:N'TY FARMERS' CLUB. 



OFl'ICEllS. 



President — A. F. AVood, Mason. 



Vice Presidents — Jamos Fuller, Jolm Gicarharfc, C. C. Marsh. 



llecordinxj Secretary — L. H. Ives, Mason. 



Coi'responding Secretary — A. M. Chapin, Mason. 



Treasurer — D. 0. Smith, Mason. 



This society holds monthly meetings, — mostly at Mason, hut occasionally at 

 the Agricultural College or at the Chandler farm, and one meeting of 18T7 was 

 convened at the farm of J. N". Smith, in Bath. Tlie proceedings arc largely 

 connected with farm topics and not appro])riate to this volume, but occasionally 

 a meeting is given up to Horticulture, and the following essay was given at one 

 of these fruit meetings : 



A PLEA FOR THE MORE EXTENSIVE CULTIVATION OF SMALL FRUITS. 



IJY ^^'. ASA ROWE. 



The farmer's home, of right, ought to be the happiest home in the land. 

 Anything that will add to its attractions for the eye, lessen tlie burden of its 

 occupants, or make their life pleasanter in any way, is worthy of discussion 

 here. 



That most of us may learn how we may better attain these objects than we 

 now do, even with our present means, all will admit. The object of this brief 

 paper is to urge the more universal cultivation of fruits, and then to lessen the 

 labors of mother, wife, or sister, and give the whole household pleasure by fur- 

 nishing at the door an abundance of small fruits, that are good to the taste as 

 well as to the sight, and that injure not. 



Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, huckleberries, cranberries, gooseber- 

 ries, and perhaps grapes, may be properly classed under the heading given this 

 paper. When well ripened, they are all healthy for most people, and delicious 

 articles of food. 



Of their nutritive value, I have nothing to. say. It is not great. Tlieir value 

 is as a dessert, and a harmless and pleasant treat to friends as well as self. 

 Berries have their use, if they are not so good as bread and butter to feed a 

 starving man. We all know their value, and appreciate it, when we have them 

 on the table. In fact, some and perhaps most of us cultivate a small patch of 

 strawberries, and permit a few desolate looking old currant bushes to grow in 

 some vacant spot about the door. To most of us, however, a full supply of 

 these various delicacies is unknown. Why this is I know not, unless it be be- 

 cause he who "was created lord and master of earth"' makes money so fast by 

 growing thirteen bushels of wheat per acre that he cannot look to such little 

 things. 



Certain it is that if a person starts right, and gives the subject the requisite 

 attention at first, it will cost no more to cultivate one-half an acre of berries 

 than to care for an acre of corn, and tliey will be worth double their cost to 

 any family. If they are to be picked from the field (and tlicy will be picked 

 if they grow), tlie account would stand about like this: 



