278 ANNUAL REPORT 



better than any mulch as yoa can imagine. If you don't believe 

 it try it. 



Of scientific crossing, or hybridizing, which is necessary to 

 produce the ideal fruit of the future, that does not come practi- 

 cally within the scox)e of private culture. It should be the work 

 of our experimental stations rather than of private individuals. 

 Hybridizing between spe(?ies has produced some wonderful re- 

 sults. Cross fertilizing between varieties has produced many 

 varieties that are almost invaluable, and this is a subject that is 

 not receiving one-half, nor an iota of the attention which it de- 

 serves, and which it will receive in the future. 



The science of pomology is far behind stock breeding in this 

 respect. The laws pertaining to stock breeding are pretty well 

 understood. By the majority of horticulturists who have not 

 made a specialty of the study of the science or art of hybridizing 

 and proper crossing, it is very little understood. 



Now, as to what we may reasonably expect from a business 

 standpoint perhaps I should speak for one moment as I have 

 had quite a large experience in commercial growing. It is en- 

 tirely wrong to create the impression to the grower that he is to 

 receive immense remuneration without exertion. Because he 

 will be disappointed and its effects will last a good while. But 

 we may reasonably expeojb that a field of strawberries, if properly 

 managed, and with suitable cultivation, will yield 150 to 300 

 cases of sixteen quarts each per acre. 



In the large commercial fields of Southern Illinois and the 

 East it is calculated that strawberries can be produced ready for 

 market in cases and boxes for four cents per quart. Assuming 

 that to be a fact, all that is received net above that price can be 

 regarded as profit. You know as well as I the cost of cultivating, 

 so it will be unnecessary to refer to it. 



Raspberries yield less but are more free from insect enemies. 

 Blackberries give about the yield of strawberries; you will never 

 get them quite up to the line of strawberries (and you will prob- 

 ably never get the amount of strawberries you read about), but 

 you may raise two hundred cases per acre in a suitable place. 



Blackberries are at the present time almost without insect ene- 

 mies or parasites. Some kinds suffer slightly from rust, but that 

 is a matter easily managed, and we may look upon them as en- 

 tirely exempt from casualties. 



I don't think I will refer to the management of grapes, currants 

 or gooseberries. 



