STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. an 
Advantages of Strawberry Culture. 
The strawberry in particular yields bountifully with us on any soil that 
will produce crops of grain, and with scarcely more care than is required for 
corn or potatoes. It comes into bearing much sooner than the large fruits, 
may be relied upon more confidently for a yearly crop, and is not so seriously 
affected by insects aud disease. 
The neglect and apathy of people in the matter of small fruit growing is 
astonishing. The farmer, absorbed in schemes for land-getting and wheat 
raising, though, perhaps, himself able to preserve measurably good health 
on a diet of pork, beans, and potatoes, because so much in the open air, 
does not always realize that his closely confined wife and his children need, as 
lighter food, a bountiful supply of fruit. His most active and intelligent sons, 
tired of the dull, monotonous routine of farm life, frequently seek for change 
and excitement in the city. They would do better in most cases to stick to 
the farm; and the father might often keep them there by taking a little 
pains to interest them in growing the blushing, sparkling, grateful small 
fruits for the family and market. In studying the growth and habits of 
fruit plants, experimenting with various modes of culture, reading horticul- 
tural books and papers, and raising new seedlings, they might find a fasci- 
nating field of labor; one that would afford the variety and pleasant excite- 
ment needed to make the spirits buoyant and the mind sprightly; contribute 
greatly to the happiness of the home circle; and, withal, yield a net yearly 
income of probably not less than $200 per acre, if they brought to their 
work a fair amount of energy, good judgment, and careful observation. 
Markets. 
At present the large cities are quite well supplied with small fruits, but 
there is a scarcity and an excellent market in all our smaller towns, and 
even in the country. If the farmer and his sons and daughters (I include 
the daughters, for they need exercise in the open air, and this is an inviting 
field for them,) do not choose to cultivate small fruits for market, they can at 
least have an abundant supply at their own door, fresh and delicious. They 
are all hungry and thirsty for them, and when the bearing season comes 
round, never fail to resolve not to let another year pass without a fruit gar- 
den. A little later, however, their good resolutions are too frequently for- 
gotten. 
Drawbacks. 
Doubtless one of the greatest drawbacks to the culture of the small fruits 
is the want of knowledge of how to grow them; and it is in the hope that I 
may be able to say something to help to remove this obstacle, and to stimu- 
late farmers and owners of village lots to effort in this very important but 
much neglected field of labor, that I have consented to prepare this paper 
upon the cultivation of the earliest, most beautiful and delicious of all our 
fruits,—the strawberry. 
The directions which I shall give, being intended not so much for the 
professional fruit grower as for those that have had little or no experience 
in the business, are as simple, plain, and practical as it is possible for me to 
