198 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



methods, the horticultural grower might make a few cents per quart at the- 

 reduced cost. 



Very likely considerably more can be done in cheapening production by 

 intensive culture in strawberries than in other small fruits, but the same 

 principle holds good in all. It is quite doubtful whether plantations of black 

 raspberries, covering from 40 to 80 acres, yield upon an average more than 

 50 bushels per acre. Yet 150 bushels are a possible yield. By cultivating so 

 as to produce the latter amount you save the rent of two acres, the value of 

 nearly 5,000 plants, and quite a sum in manure and labor. Easpberries 

 planted six feet by three require 2,420 plants to the acre. To grow 150 

 bushels, 4,800 quarts, on those plants, every hill must yield about two 

 quarts. Tbere must be no vacancies and every hill must contain quite a, 

 number of strong, vigorous canes, and every cane must be productive. Such 

 results can only be achieved by thorough intensive culture. 



The same methods would undoubtedly result in cheapening production of 

 blackberries, currants, and grapes. I have visited a great many small-fruit 

 farms during the last fifteen years, and the difference in yields where slack, 

 partial culture and high, thorough culture were followed, was too apparent 

 to permit a doubt as to which resulted in most profit. 



In continuance of the discussion the following letter was read by the 

 secretary : 

 Mr. Chas. W. Garfield : 



Dear Sir — If the subject "Intensive Methods in Horticulture," is to be 

 treated by the accomplished editor of American Rural Home it cannot be 

 doubted that it will receive full justice at his hands ; but as you invite short 

 remarks on any of the topics entered for discussion at your meeting I beg to 

 be allowed to state my conviction that the successful horticulture of the 

 future must have an extensive side as well as an intensive one. 



The successful production of fruits and vegetables alone does not neces- 

 sarily make horticulture, as a profession, a success. The conversion of the 

 already produced article into money is often the more important and gener- 

 ally the more difficult part of horticulture. 



The creative branch of horticulture, in order to be made profitable, should 

 be carried on entirely on the intensive plan. In the present era of low 

 prices the cost of production has to be cut down correspondingly. It will 

 not do any more to spread a one-acre effort over a twenty-acre lot, as the 

 result is not in keeping with the amount and expense of land. Hence the 

 horticulturist, to be successful, must resort to high feeding and thorough 

 cultivation, using a full one acre ration of manure and a plump one acre 

 ration of labor on each one acre of land, thus enabling him to grow at the 

 smallest possible expense, crops which are somewhat in proper relation to 

 the capabilities of the soil. 



In conducting the mercantile branch of horticulture we should also have 

 an eye to cutting down expenses wherever practicable ; this, however, can 

 be done in the fullest measure only by adopting the extensive method. 

 Heretofore we have been buying tools, fertilizers and other supplies at the 

 highest retail rates, and selling our produce at lowest wholesale rates less two 

 or three middlemen's commission. This thing must stop, or the horticul- 

 turist's honest labor will not receive its just reward. If we are compelled to 

 sell at wholesale rates we must also buy at wholesale. How can this be done? 



A " Fruit Growers' Union " is needed in every locality. A few are in 



