STRAWBERRIES. 187 



CHAPTER XX. 



THE SMALL FRUITS STRAWBERRIES. 



Only a few years ago the idea of raising strawberries in 

 Florida for profit, or indeed, even for home use, with any 

 measure of success, was scouted at as chimerical; though 

 why it should have been so is difficult to tell, since they 

 love a warm sun, a light soil, and abundant moisture, and 

 all these they can find with ease in Florida. 



That it should have been questioned whether there 

 would be profit in the crop for export purposes is not to 

 be wondered at. There is no fruit that requires more 

 careful handling nor more rapid transportation to market 

 than this delicious berry, of which it has been quaintly 

 said: "Doubtless God could have made a better berry, 

 but he never did." And until very recently these essen- 

 tial points were lacking in our midst. 



In the face of many discouragements, no little ridicule, 

 and utter ignorance of the proper berries to select for the 

 best results in a climate and soil new to them, a few enter- 

 prising settlers, here and there over the State, set out 

 small plats of strawberry plants for domestic use. 



The first trials were sufficient to dispel the illusion that 

 Florida soil would not raise strawberries to perfection, and 

 further experiments, intelligently and perseveringly con- 

 ducted, have demonstrated the fact that Florida's soil and 

 climate are particularly adapted to their culture, and that 

 this is destined to become one of the largest sources of 

 income. 



For several years past those sections accessible by rail, 

 and therefore having the advantage of rapid transit, have 

 shipped large quantities of strawberries to Northern and 



