122 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



can ship in any direction, morning or evening-. I have rarely 

 known the market to be overstocked with first-class fruit, and I need 

 not refer to special or general prices to show that the business, 

 economically conducted, gives a fair return for amount invested 

 and labor bestowed. Under the system pursued, the soil does not 

 deteriorate, as with grain raising. 



Without special care my blackberries have borne their usual crops 

 for fifteen years. Raspberries should be renewed once in eight or 

 ten years. Currants and grapes, it is well known, though needing 

 care every year, stand for many years, and strawberries do best 

 when new beds are planted yearly, and, though a good paying crop 

 when they do well, are not as sure as the other fruits. But, taken 

 together, failure does not as often occur in fruit raising as in grain 

 raising; and I need not mention the results of failure in a grain 

 crop — failure is too well known. But in comparison with the ex- 

 pense of high-priced labor, tools, etc., a diversified work will make 

 the largest and most satisfactory return. 



An itemized account of cost of production, of sales and returns of 

 different products of the farm, is the only way to determine their 

 relative profit. Probably, not one in fifty of average farmers can give 

 an)^ idea of the comparative value of different crops, when the total 

 cost of production is to be included. I will try to illustrate bj'^ one 

 example. One of iny neighbors, with a farm of 200 acres, was im- 

 pressed with the common opinion that all hand labor is a waste of 

 time on the farm, and seemed to be satisfied with his work only 

 when it was accomplished with the help of a team. He said: "I 

 don't see how you can make it pay to putter around with strawber- 

 ries and blackberries." Taking from my pocket a memorandum 

 book and pencil, I said: "Let me show you some figures. There 

 are ten acres of corn that jdelded 1,000 bushels of ears, equivalent 

 to 500 bushels shelled corn; without itemizing the cost, wliich most 

 any one can do, the value in the crib is $125." 



"Yes," said he, "that was a fine crop, which I should think would 

 pay you better than all the berries you have, to say nothing of the 

 value of the fodder." I then referred him to the account of a small 

 strawberry bed of fifty-four rods (2x27). The proceeds were 660 

 boxes, barely a medium yield. The cost of the corn (as the labor 

 was all hired) without counting interest on the value of land or 

 taxes was IGc per bushel, $80; net, $45. The itemized cost of the ber- 

 ries ready for market was $26; net, $iO. As for the character of the 

 labor, one must choose for himself. I prefer to diversify the work. 

 — ?Iinneapolis Journal. 



The new monthly, we understand, will take the place of the annual 

 bound volumes, and is an advance movement. The Farmer gladly 

 welcomes the Minnesota Horticulturist. It is in good hands and 

 will become popular. — Northwestern Farmer. 



