SMALL FRUITS AND THE AVERAGE FARMER. 27 



envy of his country cousin, the average farmer who had a better op- 

 portunity in every way to be the possessor of that well tilled, health 

 giving, hope inspiring, happiness producing plot of ground. If the 

 farmer owns the land he tills, or has a lease of several years, he will 

 find no part of his work pays a better dividend on the investment than 

 that little thicket of plum and cherry trees, and those few rods set io 

 strawberries, and the few rows of raspberries, gooseberries, blackber- 

 ries, dewberries, and grapes arranged along beside the vegetable gar- 

 den, and enclosed by the everywhere now so common picket fence, so, 

 at certain times of year at least, he may exclude the pigs and farm 

 poultry from its sacred precincts. 



It is not necessary here to specify varieties to plant. They will 

 vary somewhat with the locality, and any one may obtain the fullest 

 and best information on these points in the published annual reports 

 of the State Horticultural Society. Suffice to say, it will be much 

 wiser to accept the varieties recommended in these reports than to seek 

 information from the all knowing tramp tree peddler, who always ha» 

 some very highly recommended novelties of recent origin or introduc- 

 tion which so far surpass all old-fashioned sorts. Of course the price 

 is very high, but the stock is scarce and very few will be fortunate 

 enough to secure it, so you will surely not miss this opportunity. The 

 average farmer will find much more satisfaction in his small fruit 

 garden if he has no dealings with these troublesome, tiresome agents, 

 but after carefully examining the State Horticultural Reports and con- 

 sulting with some successful grower of small fruits of his acquaint- 

 ance, secures the stock he needs of the nearest reliable propagator of 

 the sorts he would use. • 



As to the care of the small fruit garden, much of value may be- 

 gleaned from our state society reports, and I will only add that in my 

 judgment the best care will permit no vegetation growing in the gar- 

 den except that from which we expect to gather the desired fruit, and 

 perhaps no better way has been devised for accomplishing this result, 

 in this section than heavy mulching. If the season is a wet one and 

 results in too excessive a growth of plant, more care will be needed' 

 in pruning and pinching back. 



But after all my brother farmer says: "Well, yes, the small fruit 

 is all very well. I think it very nice, indeed. Have no doubt that 

 it is a good thing for the health and happiness of the family, but. 



