470 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



PROPAGATION AND CARE OF HOME-GROWN FRUITS. 



MISS MINNIE ROWE, MINN. SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE. 



That the importance of raising' small fruits is overlooked by- 

 farmers g-enerally was brought to my notice recently when visiting- 

 a friend living in a small town in South Dakota. The farms in the 

 vicinity were from 320 to 1,000 acres in extent. This friend had seen 

 no berries of any kind, although they were in season. The dealers 

 were afraid to order them because of their perishable nature. One 

 dealer at length had the courage to order a case of blackberries, 

 one-half of which was purchased by a lady whose husband was the 

 owner of of 600 acres. 



The greatest value to be derived from fruit raising is the supply 

 w^hich every occupant of the land may have at his own door, and its 

 source of economy, comfort and health. Nature demands that we 

 have a varied diet, and that she has made ample provision for this 

 in one respect is proved by the quantity and variety of wild fruits. 



Strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, grapes and blackberries 

 are so easily grown and yield such excellent returns for a small 

 outlay of time and money that one wonders why they are not more 

 generally cultivated. 



Currants will thrive almost anywhere, and with a little attention 

 an abundance of this luscious fruit may be produced. Cuttings 

 may be made, seven to twelve inches long, in August, from the new 

 growth. These are set out in rich soil, four or five inches apart, in 

 rows three feet apart. One inch of the cutting should be left 

 above ground, and the soil firmly packed about the bottom of the 

 cuttings. They will root before the ground freezes and start grow- 

 ing early the next spring. Cultivate as for corn, and the second 

 spring they will be ready for transplanting to a permanent location. 

 Set the bushes about five feet apart each way in rows, and cultivate 

 thoroughly the first season. The second season cultivate until the 

 latter part of June, when the bushes may be mulched and will re- 

 quire little attention besides pruning and an occasional mulching. 

 The best time to prune is after the fruit has been picked and the 

 leaves have fallen. The greatest amount of fruit is formed on wood' 

 of the third season's growth, consequently not much pruning is 

 necessary the first three years besides pinching out the young 

 shoots, as the fruit will be small if too many are allowed to grow. 



As far as personal experience goes, the currant seems to be the 

 least infested by insects of any fruit. During fourteen years we 

 have had little or no trouble with insects. 



With us, the Red Dutch has proved to be the hardiest and most 

 productive of the red varieties, and the White Grape of the white 

 varieties. 



Gooseberries are closely related to the currant and may be grown 

 under the same conditions and in the same manner except as re- 

 gards propagation. The branches may be laid down in June, cov- 

 ered with earth, and they will be rooted by fall, when they may be 

 cut off and planted out. If left until spring, transplant early, as 

 they start growing quickly. Mildew is the worst enemy. The ber- 



