STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 89 



ing from God, and not have them try in every way to shirk its 

 responsibilities. All history teaches us that the industrious workers 

 in all nations, ages, and among all people, are the ones that have 

 prospered and conquered ; while the indolent and lazy are con- 

 stantly being driven out. 



There is another thing I will mention in connection with small 

 fruits that I find to be a great convenience and source of pleasure 

 and enjoyment. I have a commodious tent that I erect on a grassy 

 plot near to my berry grounds, where I do all the sorting, crating, 

 and getting the fruit ready for the market. I have a large table on 

 which I can set one hundred boxes, and when it is loaded with ripe, 

 luscious fruit, as I have seen it many times the past season, it is a 

 sight worth seeing. And besides the convenience of having it in 

 close proximity to my fruit ground, where I can do all the work 

 connected with the business, it makes a splendid place to spend a 

 leisure hour now and then, read the papers, etc., and entertain our 

 friends — and we have a host of them, especially in berry time, and 

 are always glad to see them. I have heard a great deal said about the 

 associations connected with the maple sugar camp, but I tell you 

 they are nothing compared with those of the strawberry tent, and 

 I know of none that are (save those of the old school-house) , com- 

 ing as it does at the most beautiful season of the year, when all 

 nature is full of life, and is decked in her royal robes, and the air 

 is filled with sweetest perfumery and the songs of birds. Oh, there 

 is lots of poetry in it, but I can't write poetry, and I will not weary 

 jour patience longer. 



DISCUSSION. 



Ques, How deep do you plow? 



Mr. Dawes. I generally plow once a year, one foot deep ; I 

 never plow deeper than that. 



Ques. How do you prepare your ground for blackberries? 



Ans. About the same as for corn. I set the rows eight feet 

 apart for blackberries and seven for raspberries. 



Ques. Do you find seven feet far enough for black caps? 



Ans. I should prefer to have them eight feet, then run every row 

 twenty feet. I usually cut the tops off. 



Ques. What varieties of strawberries have you discarded ? 



A71S. The old Wilson and Bidwell ; — I have experimented with 

 so many different kinds. I have not tested the Haverland or Jewel. 



