STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 341 



with cheap competitive rates by boats and rail, which take our 

 fruits late in the evening and place them on the market early in 

 the morning, Berrien County has not, and never can have, suc- 

 cessful competition in the production of small fruits by localities 

 which mature these fruits at the same time in the season. Small 

 fruits have become a necessity to the inhabitants of the civilized 

 world; and while the N'orth craves the early fruits from the sunny 

 South, we are enabled to return the favor, and to supply both. 

 I^ortli and South with a succession of fruits until w^e again greet 

 the strawberry from the Gulf states, while the snows upon our 

 fields are melting from the buds, which always produce a sure 

 harvest. Berrien County has in bearing about 7,000 acres of 

 small fruits, about 4,000 acres being in strawberries and the re- 

 mainder nearly equally divided between blackberries and rasp- 

 berries. 



"Fully nine-tenths of our strawberry fields are Wilson's; this 

 variety still holding the first place with large planters for distant 

 markets. The Sharpless is growing in favor wath Chicago con- 

 sumers, but will not bear reshipping, and is extremely sensitive 

 to frost during the blooming season. The Crescent and Man- 

 chester stand next, but pistilate varieties are not popular with 

 our growers. Many new varieties are being introduced, among 

 which the ideal market berry may be found. 



"The Turner has been the leading red raspberry, but is giving 

 place to Cuthbert, Eeder and Brandywiue, all of which are bet- 

 ter berries for distant markets, not requiring every-day picking 

 and can be picked much cheaper. Shaffer and Ohio are good 

 for canning and for near market, but are too dark and soft for 

 our markets. Gregg is considered the best blackcap, but black 

 varieties are not as j)0i3ular as formerly with grower or con- 

 sumer. 



"Melons, asparagus, and many vegetables of the best quality 

 are profitably grown for the Chicago market, but southern points 

 supply the market early in the season, and large market gardens 

 are cultivated in the vicinity of Chicago. 



"It is about twenty -five years since persons desirous of fol- 

 lowing, pomological pursuits began to be attracted to this local- 

 ity. The most of the lake shore country is now occupied by 

 fruit farms, which average about twenty acres each. Prices of 

 these farms range from fifty to three hundred dollars per acre.'* 



President Lyon, of South Haven, on the shore of Lake Michi- 

 gan, writes: 



