SMALL FRUITS. 345 



SMALL FRUITS. 



EDWARD D. GRAY, YANKTON, S. D. 

 (Read before the South Dakota State Horticultural Society meeting.) 



The growing of small fruits in South Dakota is not an easy, nor is 

 it an impossible, undertaking. We have disadvantages of climate 

 conditions which do not face the berry grower in Illinois, southern 

 Iowa and sections of the country where the winters are less severe 

 and the summer atmosphere is less withering with' its dry winds. 

 That our soil is rich and well adapted to fruit culture we all believe. 

 That we have an admirable market for any and all of our fruit pro- 

 ducts goes without saying, with a good soil and plenty of water, 

 for we can irrigate. With a ready and good market at good prices, 

 can we raise small fruits profitably in South Dakota? I believe 

 we can, at least, in the southern central parts. We have, however, to 

 face three dangers which threaten small fruits, namely: the extreme 

 cold of winter, late spring frosts and hot, dry south winds. To this 

 might be added drouth, but for that we have a remedy in artesian 

 or some other form of irrigation, which I believe to be absolutely 

 essential to successful fruit culture. 



First. — As to our winters. It has been demonstrated that the black- 

 berry, red and black raspberry very seldom or never will outlive 

 the South Dakota wiater. If they do, their productiveness is much 

 impaired. Some kind of protection is essential; what it shall be 

 depends upon circumstances. I have known the Cuthbert red rasp- 

 berry survive the winter and produce a large crop without other 

 protection than the fact that it grew in an orchard surrounded by 

 shrubbery. Some winters straw might be sufficient protection for 

 the blackcap. However, the only safe method of winter protection 

 is earth covering. It is absolutely sure and takes away all danger 

 of winter-killing. It is laborious and expensive, to be sure, yet in the 

 light of the value of the crop this will be insignificant. 



Second. — Far more serious is the danger which threatens the plant- 

 ation in late spring and ea'-ly 8ummer,when the bushes are in blos- 

 som. Our frosts are as uncertain and erratic as our blizzards. How 

 to protect the delicate flowers, even though warned in good time by 

 the weather bureau and one's own foresight, is a serious question. 

 We all know that a copious irrigation, a constantly descending 

 spray, a dense smoke or a covering of more material kind are used 

 with good success. Whether they are practical for you and me is a 

 question we must decide, and yet some method must be used if the 

 crop would be saved. Two out of four, if not three out of five, years 

 we suffer from late frosts. If we can guard against these, the crop 

 will be practically insured — no, not insured for in the third place we 

 have that bane of South Dakota, the withering stimmer south 

 wind, which comes from over the Nebraska sand hills and costs the 

 farmer thousands of dollars every year in a shrunken wheat crop, 

 and makes life a burden to all living kind. With this we must take our 

 chances. Even if the roots have sufficient moisture, the shrivelling 

 of the berry will not be checked. Windbreaks may be a help, but 

 they cannot shut out the burning heat from the furnace blast. Small 

 fruit to reach its perfection in size and juiciness requires, with other 



