SUMMER MEETING. 57 



second year pinch back two or three feet high. I never take out the 

 old wood till spring, for it is a protection to the new canes. Shorten 

 the lateral shoots from 10 to 18 inches in early spring. 



'• I have been growing raspberries for 20 years, and now place the 

 Kansas at the head. It stands the winters better and resists anthrac- 

 nose better than any variety I know of. It is nearly as large as the 

 Gregg and much better in quality. It is second early and makes fine 

 large tips and tine canes. 



"The Progress is the best early variety here, fine and large fruit 

 and makes belter canes than the Palmer and does well on thin sandy 

 clay lands. The Queen of the West is a good berry, and makes the 

 largest cane of any variety except the Schaffer. The red varieties I 

 will say nothing about, for they have not been a success with me. I 

 have a number of varieties now." 



GATHERING, PACKING AND MARKETING SMALL FKUIT. 



The most important part of the whole business of handling small 

 fruit is in the packing. I am very particular about whom I employ. 

 If a girl or boy applies, the first thing is to take an inventory of their 

 personal appearance. If they look (c-lean, neat and tidy, I consider 

 their apphcation. If their clothes are dirty and everything seems in 

 disorder about them, I generally have all the help 1 need. 



I believe I can go on the street and look at the passers by, and 

 tell who would make good pickers. 



Strawberries should be picjced with a steam about one-half or three- 

 fourths of an inch in length, either for home market or shipment. If 

 possible, every berry should be picked separate and laid in the box. 

 Of course we cannot have this done, but we cannot impress the fact 

 too often on the pickers that they must be handled carefully. When the 

 boxes are nearly full I have them turn the stem end down. This gives 

 them a very attractive appearance. There is no fraud in this, the 

 berries are no larger, but look so much nicer, and it pays to do it. 

 My pickers, when they get used to this way, prefer it to the snap and 

 scratch way. I pay my pickers 1| cents per box, and by so doing, I 

 have a right to demand they shall be picked as I want them. I pay 

 off my pickers every night, and this makes them feel good and eager 

 for the fray next morning. 



This brings us to crating up. Crates should be made out of nice 

 clean timber, and don't spare the nails. For shipping I cover the 

 berries with heavy tissue paper before nailing on the tops. For home 



