CHAPTER XXIX. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



WHERE there is plenty of room, and a good sunny aspect, 

 these are very profitable. As a crop can be gathered the 

 first year after planting, where started before August, 

 and as strawberries are rarely subject to disease, they are 

 always likely to be popular products for small holdings. 

 But unless a home demand can be depended upon or some 

 other outlet is secured besides the wholesale salesmen, 

 there is not a certain prospect for the small grower, 

 unless for exceptionally good or very early fruit. The 

 markets are, as a rule, so amply supplied with mid- 

 season fruit by the large cultivators, that the small 

 consignments get neglected, and many of the best trade 

 buyers take only the boxes (unseen often) of the icoll- 

 knoicn large first-class growers. But for those small 

 cultivators who have any special outlets, and where 

 there is not such overwhelming competition as in 

 London markets, no fruit answers better for small 

 holdings. 



Some growers do best by sending in their fruit direct 

 to shops, hotels, or private customers ; and therefore, 

 when the soil is suitable around popular watering places 

 or thriving country towns, strawberries can be safely 



