98 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



labor. But few varieties of each kind of fruit need be planted. For 

 strawberries, Senator Uunlap and Warfleld make a good pair, with a few 

 Brandywine, Sample or Gaudy for late berries. Easpberries and black- 

 berries also are fruits that once appreciated are always favorites. Among 

 the red raspberries Cuthbert, Golden Queen, and for b.lack, Cumberland, 

 Gregg or Kansas, are leading sorts. A half dozen hills of Columbian 

 should also be added for variety. Any hardy blackberry makes a valuable 

 addition. The Snyder, Taylor or Mersereau are leading kinds for home 

 use. Currants and gooseberries must also have a little space, while 

 grapevines enough to supply a family fond of this royal fruit will require 

 more room. Under favorable conditions a dozen plants of Delaware, 

 Worden and Concord will furnish a very satisfactory supply of fruit and 

 pay in comfort many times their cost of production. In growing fruits 

 for market the question assumes different proportions. The matter of 

 elevation, soils and adaptability of fruit grown and other local conditions 

 are of prime importance. Also in dealing with a home market the 

 methods must differ from those employed for the distant market. It is 

 easier for the average fruit grower to raise fruit than to handle it to the 

 best advantage after it is ready to harvest. Fruit must be sold at a profit 

 or we are disappointed. 



We must know as far as possible the market demands, and supply such 

 demands to the best of our ability. Fruit statistics for the last dozen 

 years show conclusively that the demand for fruits of all kinds is 

 increasing many fold faster than the population. People that can get 

 just the quality of fruit desired increase their consumption rapidly. We 

 are a nation of meat-eaters, but where satisfactory fruits are abundant 

 the meat and doctor's bills are greatly diminished to the marked advan- 

 tage of the consumer and fruit grower. 



We must study every phase of the subject thoroughly and carefully 

 look to business methods in every detail. There is too little thought given 

 to the growing, packing and selling of small fruit to secure the best 

 results. Fruit growers lose annually large sums of money through neglect 

 and heedlessness. The small-fruit growers of Michigan are making one 

 fatal mistake that we hope competition will ultimately rectify. The 

 practice of putting second-class goods in first-class packages is altogether 

 too common. In few other lines of work will the consumer endure one- 

 fourth as much imposition as he will of the fruit man. The fruit grower 

 looks to the immediate price and thinks he is ahead, while in the end he 

 pays dearly for his dishonesty. There is a class of consumers for every 

 grade of fruit grown, and if these grades and demands are carefully 

 recognized the best grades will bring more dollars tban all grades dishon- 

 estly sold. Thus a higher service will be rendered the people and more 

 dignity will grace our profession. There is always a brisk demand for the 

 best grades of fruit at remunerative prices. Close application to details 

 and business principles must win out in the end. Absolute honesty, busi- 

 ness methods and close attention to details are grossly neglected, yet are 

 three essential requisites to success in commercial fruit growing. 



