70 Small J^rutts for t?ie J*iemify Gai'den. 



Small Fruits for the Family G-arden. 



Head, by Louiit Mitz, before the Eastern Ohio Horticultural Society. 

 Strmeberries. 



WITH particular reference to strawberries, I would advise to make a first experi- 

 ment on a small scale, as a thousand plants, carefully managed, will yield as 

 much as an acre neglected. Plant on the hill, or on the matted row system, as they 

 will yield best in the long-run ; either mulch your ground heavy enough to keep the 

 weeds dov>-n and the soil mellow, or use the cultivator, harrow, roller and hoe, fre- 

 quently, and be careful to do this always when weeds are small, and give a light 

 winter covering to protect the hearts from the extreme frosts and to keep the berries 

 clean when they mature. Handle them carefully at picking time, and last but not 

 least be sure to find the best market and the right customer. It is a very great mis- 

 take to suppose the largest market the best ; large markets are always overstocked in 

 the height of the picking season, at which time none, except the very best of berries, 

 will pay; but there are plenty of smaller markets all around you, as well as in the 

 adjoining States there are hundreds of towns and villages, where no, or only a few, 

 berries are raised, and in those your fruit will command a ready price ; do not ship 

 to a small market more than it can consume. If five bushels are daily required do 

 not send ten, as the net returns for the ten would not leave any margin on the five ; 

 but ship your surplus to some other market ; and, above all, send only the very best 

 of fruit ; have your name attached to it, and your berries will gain after a while such 

 a reputation that you can safely defy all competition. 



Varieties. 



What varieties to plant, will depend on your soil and your market ; for distant 

 shipment the list is very limited, while for home markets there are many sorts that 

 will, with fair treatment, make ample returns. It is best not to rely on any one 

 kind, however good it may be, as one is not always able to command a sufficient 

 number of pickers, or your markets may be glutted just at the time the bulk of your 

 crop comes in. 



For distant shipment, we have for earliest the Princess of Wales, which ripens a 

 few days after the Downer's Prolific ; it is firm, large, showy and of excellent flavor ; 

 though of foreign origin, it grows on the hill system, in a well enriched, heavy clay 

 soil strono' and vigorous, is quite productive and commands a very high price in 

 market, as it has to compete only with soft berries. But I would not advise its plant- 

 inir, except where good culture is given ; and I may mention here, that foreign varie- 

 ties will do better, if annually renewed, a plan that is generally adopted on the con- 

 tinent, and I incline to think that our native sorts would likewise yield better returns, 

 if this plan was adopted. 



Next we have the Wilson Albany and Seth Boyden, maturing about medium 

 season, both very productive on the matted row plan ; the former yielding a larger 

 amount of fruit ; the latter, however, commanding a much higher price in market. 

 The Seth Boyden is not reliable in light and sandy soil. Mr. Wm. Parry informs me 

 that in 1871 the Seth Boyden surpassed any strawberry crop he ever raised, very 

 perfect, large and productive; but this year he had ten acres of light, sandy soil in 



