76 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
us to barrels, but we were only allowed to pay for one). Later one 
bushel of berries bought for us a barrel of Jonathans from north- 
ern Wisconsin and delivered them at our door; and other single 
bushels of our berries bought for us eight bushels of rye, seven 
bushels of potatoes, seven bushels of wheat, twelve anda half bush- 
els of oats, fifteen pounds of butter, one and one-fourth cords of dry 
oak wood, 150 pounds of best flour, 800 pounds good timothy hay 
and other necessaries in proportion. With these figures starring us 
in the face, is it reasonable for farmers to turn their backs on this 
industry and say, “I can’t spare the time from other farm work’? 
You may say, “I don’t know how to rightly embark in the business 
of growing berries;”’ but you are bound to succeed with the practical 
information you can obtain through this society, its deliberations 
and annualreports containing a listof varieties that are known to be 
profitable for you and also giving advice how to plant, grow and 
market. 
Your state also offers a course in agriculture at St. Anthony Park; 
one of the studies being “Horticulture,” taught by one of the most 
practical theoretical horticultural teachers that it has ever been my 
good fortune to meet, visit and consult with,a man whose reputation 
extends beyond the confines of your state, throughout the United 
States, and of whom Minnesota should be and is truly proud. 
Now, a few words to the young farmers or the boys on the farm 
who are looking forward to getting away from the rural home into 
the village or city—any place, if it be only off the farm. I should 
also like the ears of the fathers and mothers who want the be to 
stay where they are. 
I believe with the advent of this berry industry the boys on the 
farm have a chance to better their condition and commence a busi- 
ness at home that will pay them better dividends in money, health 
and happiness than they would procure in the village orcity. Take 
the lease of one-fourth, one-half or one acre of the farm and paya 
’ price per acre fully as much as it has brought in actual profit on an 
average for the past three years; take a written lease for five years 
with privilege of five moreat its expiration. And right here I want to 
call the attention of the fathers to the fact that the pig given the 
child should not be sold as the father’s hog, but that the young 
farmer should have the whole hog or none. This one-half acre berry 
farmer must attend to the actual business and work of this farm 
himself, and must have all the profits himself. 
I believe this a practical.way of interesting the boys ina business 
that can be carried on athome. Many young farmers are attending 
our Sparta schools this winter with the profits of berries that were 
grown, cultivated and marketed by them. 
I am requested by your secretary to devote a few minutes to goose- 
berry culture, which has received more attention during the past 
few years than has been heretofore accorded it. 
The demand for this berry is rapidly growing, especially the ripe 
gooseberry for dessert, and both the green and ripe for preserving. 
The profits are fully as large as in any other small fruits and the 
worm is easily combatted by spraying,and even the English varieties 
