STRAWBERRIES — CURRANTS. 647 



them on one tract of ground, when they should be destroyed ; 

 they then leave the land in good condition for corn or potatoes. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



Owing to the immense quantity of this fruit sent to our 

 market from other points, and over production at home, most 

 growers are raising them at a loss. However, by having some 

 reputation established, and by taking extra pains in picking 

 and placing them in the market fresh, and in good condition, I 

 find ready sale for them at two to five cents per quart above 

 the ordinary prices. Therefore they prove with me a paying 

 crop. My method of growing them is to set the plants in the 

 Spring on clean, rich, deep-plowed land, in rows three feet 

 apart, so as to admit of the use of a horse the first year in cul- 

 tivating. The first crop I take from what I term " matted 

 rows," after which they are allowed to cover the whole ground 

 and receive no care but hand weeding and thinning. As soon 

 as a bed begins to decline in productiveness or quality of fruit, 

 I plant new beds, plowing the old ones under ami putting the 

 ground into vegetable crops. 



CURRANTS. 



I grow currants more to keep up the variety than for pay. 

 The wholesale price here rarely exceeds one dollar per bushel. 

 The labor and expense required to grow and market a superior 

 article is greater, in proportion to value received, than any 

 other fruit I have attempted to raise. 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



I will make but a brief allusion to this. I occupy about 

 two acres with early peas, beans, and potatoes; the same 

 ground being taxed with a second crop of tomatoes, turnips, or 

 fodder corn, after the first is gathered. I plant from one to 

 two acres of tomatoes, about two of cabbage and cauliflower, and 

 about three to five acres to beets, carrots, parsnips, and onions. 

 I also have a patch of horseradish, Lima beans, cucumbers, 

 squashes, egg plants, peppers and celery, and raise three to 



