196 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



means to become familiar with odd, rare or new varieties, which exhibitors 

 could not place in competition. 



A. G. GITLLEY, 



Superintendent of Division A. 



The above reports with reference to the annual exhibit were referred to 

 the secretary for publication. The reports having been disposed of, the 

 meeting proceeded to the first discussion upon the programme, upon the 

 general topic "Intensive Horticulture;" the discussion being opened with a> 

 paper upon 



FEWER ACRES OF SMALL FRUIT— MORE FRUIT TO THE ACRE. 



BY P. C. REYNOLDS, ROCHESTER, K. Y. 



Very general complaint has come from nearly all sections of the country 

 where small fruits are produced for market, that prices the past season were 

 unremunerative. Such being the case, one of two alternatives seems to be 

 indicated, namely: The reduction of volume of products or the diminution 

 of its cost. It is a very difficult matter for fruit growers, scattered as they 

 are over a wide area, to combine to reduce production. The orderly opera- 

 tion of the laws of trade and production have a tendency to diminish pro- 

 duction when exercised, but combination rarely does. The prices of small 

 fruits are destined, I believe, to rule low in the future, and growers will be 

 wise to adapt their business to that condition of things. With unlimited 

 land and labor for production, the amount produced will be likely to increase- 

 quite as fast as population. The other alternative is cheaper production. 

 The proper way to cheapen production, in my opinion, is by producing more 

 per acre. Every grower can do this for himself without the necessity of 

 combination or co-operation. 



Small-fruit growing used to be considered a branch of horticulture. Ee- 

 cently many have conducted it as if it belonged to agriculture. The result 

 is not surprising. The horticulturist aims to grow large quantities of pro- 

 duce on small areas of land by means of heavy manuring and high culture: 

 The agriculturist spreads his operations over broad areas of soil which he cul- 

 tivates enough to enable the roots of crops to spread through the soil, with- 

 out serious obstruction, in search of adequate supplies of suitable food, and 

 to prevent weeds from obtaining such growth as to overcome the plants he is 

 seeking to grow. The horticulturist seeks a small tract of garden soil, near 

 a town or city, where he can have an abundance of fertilizers, laborers of 

 the right kind, and where proximity to market enables him to deliver his 

 products, from day to day, fresh to consumers. 



Now, it seems to me that too many small-fruit growers have, within a few 

 years, come to adopting the methods of the agriculturist rather than those 

 of the horticulturist. They have planted their fruits in fields instead of 

 gardens; they have manured as if for farm rather than garden crops, and 

 they have cultivated after the manner of farmers rather than as gardeners 

 cultivate. Moreover, many have located remote from town, subjecting them- 

 selves to quite a tax in transporting their fruits to market and in transport- 

 ing their laborers to and from their labor. Let the farmer stick to farm 

 crops, and they who are fitted by nature, tastes, and training for horticul- 

 turists grow small fruits. This, I think, is the natural order of things, and 

 to this, I believe, we shall be obliged to come. 



