MARKETING. 627 



when asked what he thought of strawberries, replied, " God 

 might have made better fruit., but He never did.'''' I am 

 inclined to agree with the boy in my estimation of straw- 

 berries. 



I am experimenting with Japan persimmons. The tree has 

 gone through one Winter with simply heavy mulch about the 

 roots. That is all I can say of or for it at present. 



MARKETING. 



In handling fruits of all kinds, I am particular to allow 

 none but select specimens to go to market. All inferior is 

 dried or worked up into vinegar. Thus one always gets good 

 prices and a good name, which the good Book says, " is better 

 than great riches." I often sell select peaches in baskets, at 

 from two to four dollars per bushel, while same varieties, good, 

 bad, large, small and indifferent, all mixed up pell mell in a 

 box, or wagon bed, sell for fifty cents. My grapes will always 

 command from two to three cents per pound more than a 

 jumbled up lot. 



On general principles, I want neither weeds nor grass with 

 my fruit trees or vines. Clean ddtivation and well fed soil, is 

 my theory. By well fed soil I mean the same treatment we 

 give ourselves, our cattle, horses, swine, sheep, etc., etc. Keep 

 up the properties that give health, growth and production, and 

 with the same regularity and care. Give back to the soil, each 

 year, as much at least, as you take from it. This, in slx)rt, is. 

 ray theory of cultivating and caring for fruit. 



