348 ANNUAL REPORT. 



of the demand for fruits, and the conclusion is that for a long 

 time to come the demand will exceed the supply. True, the 

 market is sometimes overstocked for a day or two, but in such 

 a case the producer can dry or can the surplus. The market for 

 dried fruit is never overstocked. 



Small fruit growers have another advantage in the fact that 

 their products come into market in the summer, when people 

 have money and are liberal in spending it, rather than in the 

 winter, when many are idle, and when those who have employ- 

 ment find that the necessaries of life make such heavy demands 

 upon their earnings that they' have little left for luxuries. 



The advantage of being one's own employer is worth much. 

 No one can fully appreciate this until he has been subject to the 

 call of a bell or a whistle. There is not a single qualification 

 needed for the business of growing small fruits that woman does 

 not possess. Indeed a much larger proportion of women than 

 of men are suited to the work. Farmers in general will let their 

 families go without fruit rather then to raise it, but farmers' 

 wives are interested in horticulture. They raise the flowers, and 

 often the vegetables. They attend to details. They are in sym- 

 pathy with their pets, and learn their habits much sooner than 

 men do. As a rule they are not so ready to neglect their work 

 as men are. Added to this, they have a "knack" which gives 

 them success. A skilful gardener once said that a woman with 

 a cracked teapot could root cuttings that an experienced propa- 

 gator with all his modern appliances would fail with. It is not 

 hard work, nor the ability to do hard work that makes fruit 

 growing successful; it is the heart work, the real interest, the 

 carefulness, and faithfulness, and good judgment that are put 

 into the enterprise. 



Lack of knowledge is no obstacle, for this can be acquired 

 easily and quickly. There are no secrets in fruit growing. Those 

 engaged in it are always ready to communicate their knowledge, 

 and every horticultural society is engaged in disseminating in- 

 formation. 



HINTS TO BEGINNERS. 



First — Post uj) on the work. Study your facilities, your land, 

 capital, nearness to market, and ability to obtain needed help. 

 Secure the control of some good land. It costs as much to pre- 

 pare and cultivate poor land as rich, and the profits are little or 



