20 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the raspberry takes its place, and we have that most delicious of all 

 berries with us through July; that is followed by the blackberry, 

 and last, but not least, the luscious grape. 



Now, then, what is to hinder anj' man or woman who has one- 

 *iuarter acre of g-round from raising- all the splendid berries that a 

 moderate-sized family can use? If farmers fully appreciated the 

 advantages of a fruit garden, few would be without one; they could 

 get from it more health, more comfort and more dollars for the same 

 amount of labor, than frotn any other part of the farm. Let each 

 child and the wife have the care of some particular row or bush or 

 plant, and they will soon learn to love the old homestead, and it will 

 help to keep the bo5'^s on the farm. 



Now we will, if 3^011 please, just lay out a small fruit garden 

 for the farm or the village lot. We will take just one-quarter of 

 an acre, four rods wide and ten rods long, for convenience in culti- 

 vating. We will manure the ground thoroughlj', plough deep and 

 pulverize until perfectl}' mellow. Place the first row three feet from 

 the outside and set to Transcendent apples and Desota plums; second 

 row, 50 blackberries, 25 Ancient Briton, 25 Snyder; third row, 50 rasp- 

 berries, black, 25 Ohio, 25 Gregg; fourth row, 50 red raspberries, 25 Tur- 

 ner, 25 Cuthbert; fifth row, 50 currants, 25 Victoria, 25 Fay's Prolific; 

 sixth row, 50 currants and gooseberries, 25 White Grape currants,, 15 

 Downing and 10 Houghton gooseberries; seventh, eighth and ninth 

 rows, 300 strawberries, Warfield, Jessie, Wilson and Parker Earle; 

 Tenth row. 18 grapes, 6 Moore's Earl3^,G Delaware, Concord. Have the 

 rows seven feet apart, except the strawberries, which should be 

 three and one-half feet, and you ought to gather 30 bushels of fine 

 fruit every j^ear. You must bear in mind that the soil should be 

 rich, thoroughly cultivated and well drained. 



Frequent cultivation keeps the ground moist and mellow. In set- 

 ting, the roots should be well spread and the earth packed firm 

 about them. No fruit should be allowed to grow the first season. 

 Weeds must not be allowed to grow among small fruit. 



Blackberries and raspberries should be pinched back when 18 inches 

 high; severe pruning increases the size of the fruit. Old canes 

 should be cut and burned as soon as done bearing. Mulching- 

 holds moisture and prevents weeds from growing. Good plants 

 and pure are necessary to produce good fruit. Winter protection is 

 necessary for small fruits and grapes in Minnesota. Plants should 

 be purchased only of responsible dealers. New, high-priced plants 

 are generallj' disappointing. Fresh earth is the cheapest covering 

 for small fruits. 



Now, from what experience I have had in small fruits on Lake 

 Minnetonka, I think I can truthfully say that I would rather have 

 fifteen acres of small fruits in good bearing tlian 1(30 acres of the 

 best land in the state of Minnesota for general farming, and I think 

 I could show as good a profit at the end of the year. 



The strawberry grows in nearly every climate and on all kinds 

 of soils, but the best results can be obtained only by good 

 cultivation and high fertilizing. The ground should be well 

 manured with barnyard manure, well ploughed in, and top- 

 dressed with rotted manure; thorough preparation is very 

 essential. Make your rows 3^2 feet apart and set plants two 



