THIRD MEETING, FEBRUARY 12th, P. M. 

 Yice-Pres'ident O. B. Hadwen in the chair. 



Subject : Growing and Marketing Small Fruits. 

 The subject was introduced by Mr. William H. Earle. 



He said he wouhl speak only of such varieties of fruit as will 

 repay cultivation. After a general allusion to the pleasures of 

 fruit culture, he suggested that a currant bush or a grapevine 

 take no more room than a burdock, and a strawberry plant no 

 more room than a small weed. A small area of ground properly 

 handled will supply a large family with fruit throughout the 

 season. Ten square rods will give $100 worth of good fruit, and 

 it is a much better investment than to buy the wilted stock found 

 in the markets. 



The first essential is a properly prepared and fertilized soil. 

 There is as much difference in ground as in people, and an ac- 

 quaintance with one is as essential as the other, if pleasure or 

 profit is the object of cultivation. As the speaker is to read a 

 paper on " Does Horticulture pay, and how," he withheld a further 

 statement, and asked general questioning. 



He recommended for general growth. Blackberries, in which 

 there is increasing interest ; Kittatinny being the best, if fairly 

 protected, very prolific, free from briers, a free bearer. The 

 Wachnsett and the Snyder are also good. They require little 

 fertilizino; ; o-ood corn ground with mulchino: is all. They should 

 be pruned when growing, nipping the main stem and taking oil 

 laterals when eight inches long. Four feet high is enough. 



A listener said his Kittatinnys cost him $1 per quart; Mr. 

 Earle said 21 rods of rows, in '77 gave 509 quarts at 25 cents per 

 quart, or $1400 per acre. He did not fear glutting the market ; 

 really good blackberries will sell ; they will pay at 15 cents per 

 quart. New Jersey growers are delighted with a return of 6 

 cents per quart over expenses. He would cut out the old wood 

 in the spring, rather than in the fall, as the old wood supports 

 the new against the snow.' He would grow the three named 

 varieties, to have a succession, as they ripen at different times. 

 He would not prolong the season too much with any berry. 



He had been disappointed in Raspberry culture. He thought 



