FRUIT FARMING. 4t 



approximate ; and the following records are given merely to 

 show what results have been secured, and therefore may be 

 obtained again, and even surpassed. "The Country Gen- 

 tleman" gives a well-authenticated instance of a fruit grower 

 who " received more than ^2,000 from three acres of straw- 

 berries." In contrast, however, it could be shown that many 

 fields have not paid expenses. I once had such an experi- 

 ence. The market was "glutted," and the variety yielded 

 berries so small and poor that they did not average five 

 cents per quart. Occasionally we hear of immense ship- 

 ments from the South being thrown into the dock. 



Mr. William Parry, a veteran fruit grower in New Jersey, 

 states the tnith I wish to convey very clearly, and gives a 

 fair mean between these two extremes : — 



"YIELD AND PROFIT. 



" There are so many circumstances connected with strawberry 

 growing, such as varieties, soil, climate, location, markets, and 

 the skill and management of the grower, that the results of a 

 few cases cannot be relied on for general rules. 



" We have grown over two hundred bushels per acre here, 

 and realized upward of six hundred dollars per acre for the crop ; 

 but that is much above the general average. Having kept a 

 careful record, for fourteen years past, of the yield per acre and 

 price per quart at which our strawberries have been sold, we 

 find the average to be about 2,500 quarts per acre, and the price 

 eleven cents per quart in market, giving the following results : 



Commissions, 10 per cent §27.50 



Picking 2,500 quarts, at 2c. per quart 50.00 



Manure i7-50 



Use of Baskets 10.00 



Cultivation, etc 25.00 



Net profits per acre 145.00 



Gross proceeds, 2,500 quarts at lie $275.00" 



