THIRTEENTH .IXXUAL MEETING. 12 1 



between the rows so as to retain the moisture and give a place 

 to walk in, in picking the fruit. Leaving the mnlch late insures 

 against late frosts and brings my fruit into market a week 

 after the rush, when I obtain a much better price, as straw- 

 berries, like peaches, are always in demand. 



Consumers seem never to tire of them, and the last ones 

 very often bring better prices than the first, although of inferior 

 quality. After removing the mulch I give a liberal dressing 

 of unleached ashes. I have never seen anything that was 

 better than ashes, and the more I put on the better the berries. 

 For strawberries, ashes seem to be complete. Other fertilizers 

 may do as well for others who may be differently situated ; 

 it certainly is difficult to lay down a rule that will cover all 

 conditions of climate and soil. What would be best for one 

 might work ruin for another. One must study carefully his 

 own soil and climate conditions and work out his own berry 

 problems. ]\Iy simple little story relates only to my practical 

 experience, as I never studied any books on the subject, although 

 much is written. Yet, not all that is written, if followed, would 

 give good success. 



I do not pick my fruit until ripe, as I have found that if 

 anything should hinder picking when ripe, so some of the fruit 

 was over-ripe, that my customers are better satisfied with it 

 than green or under-ripe fruit. I do not depend entirely on 

 fruit-growing for bread and butter ; if I did in a season like 

 last season, my bank account would be minus. 



Now comes the hardest part of the subject — marketing the 

 fruit. If we fail in this, as many do, then the labor and care 

 and anxiety are all lost. No doubt this has discouraged many 

 an otherwise successful grower. In the first place, we must 

 make our fruit first class, put it up in an attractive form, have 

 as good fruit in the bottom of the basket as on the top every 

 time, put our name on the package, and when consumers 

 find they can depend on fruit with our name on it, there will 

 be no trouble to sell for good prices. I think that more depends 

 upon the honesty of putting up the fruit than any other one 

 thing. I have sold in many different ways, by retail to con- 

 sumers direct, by the crate to retailers, and by wholesale at 

 bed or express office, and find that w^here I can get a good 

 man or party, the wholesale is the best way for me. as my time 



