THE SECRETARY'S TORTFOLIO. 237 



with the grain growers. It is so with the orchardists who accomplish much 

 good. And we think there is still a chance for the small fruit grower who will 

 take hold of the business with good judgment and with all his energy. 



Another very important condition of success in this culture is that all small 

 fruits must be grown very near the shipping station for the intended market. 

 We think sufficient consideration has not been given to this point in our section 

 of country, particularly in the growing of strawberries and raspberries. In 

 our county, for instance, farmers have been planting these berries who live 

 eight or ten or even a dozen miles from their shipping station. There can be 

 nothing but loss on the average in sucli an operation. IMo variety of berry 

 was ever grown that is firm enough if reasonably well ripened, to bear a jolting 

 ride of ten miles over our notoriously rough roads and be in fit condition for a 

 long railroad carriage. Even with the easiest spring wagons this would be too 

 much ; and with the fruit carried in the common farm wagon with no springs 

 save a little straw in the bottom, the condition of its arrival must of necessity 

 be bad. We have all seen the dripping and gory looking berry cases unloaded at 

 our stations and loaded on top of our own sound fruit to its certain damage. 

 These distant growers make no money themselves in this way and hinder grow- 

 ers who take every possible pains with their fruit from making as much as they 

 deserve. 



We decidedly advise that no small fruits be planted more than a half- 

 hour's drive from the shipping point. Within such a distance and with easy 

 wagons and good roads the fruit can be picked on the day of its shipment and 

 be put on board the cars in fresh and sound condition. Good berries, well 

 grown, well handled, kept perfectly clean, and marketed in this prompt way, 

 ought to, and generally will, pay a fair profit. There is not too much good, 

 high-grade fruit grown of any kind. Tliere is not enough of such for the 

 constant demand. But there certainly is a surplus of the poor article. 



ABRIDGED HISTORY OF THE STRAWBERRY. 



A few years ago, in one of our volumes, we gave a legend purporting to give 

 the origin of the strawberry, which was quoted very largely. We now take 

 pleasure in placing in our Portfolio, from the able pen of Eev. Charles Arnold, 

 of Ontario, Canada, an abridged history of this fruit for above 400 years : 



Shakspeare informs us that the Bishop of Ely's garden in Holborn was 

 distinguished for the excellent strawberries it produced, even as far back as the 

 reign of Kichard the Third (1483). And judging from the remarks of an old 

 writer in 1578, it would appear that the only strawberries known at that time 

 were the Wood strawberr}^ and, perhaps, the White Alpine. He says: 

 ''Strawberries grow in shadowy woods and deep trenches, and banks by 

 highway sides. They be also much planted in gardens. The fruit is green at 

 first, but red when it is ripe. Sometimes also you shall find them very white 

 when they be ripe; in taste and savour very pleasant." Another old writer in 

 1597 speaks of the " Ked and White Wood, and the Green Fruited; the two 

 last not to be found save only in gardens." Johnson, in his edition of the 

 work containing the last statement, published in 1663, does not mention any 

 other variety. Another writer in 1656 mentions the Virginia Scarlet (or 

 Canada) and the Bohemian. This last variety is supposed to be theHautbois, 



