94 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The late E. P. Roe said: "I have known invaHds to improve 

 from the first day that berries were brought to the table, and 

 thousands would exchange their sallow complexions, sick head- 

 aches and general interest with life and its abounding pleasures 

 if they would only take nature's palpable hint and enjoy the 

 seasonable food she provides. Belles can find better cosmetics 

 in the fruit garden than on their toilet tables, and she who paints 

 her cheeks with the pure, healthful blood that is made from 

 nature's choicest gifts and the exercise of gathering them, can 

 give her lover a kiss that will make him wish for another." 



STRAWBERRIES FIRST IN THE SEASON. 



Beginning with June we have the beautifuldelicious and ever- 

 welcome strawberry, and these are supplemented in succession 

 with raspberries, black and red, currants, gooseberries and. 

 blackberries, a good list of delicious, healthful luxuries, and all 

 within easy reach of every farmer in the land, in the very height 

 of perfection at the very lowest cost. 



We class the strawberry as easily at the head of small fruits 

 for family use. Its ease of cultivation, quickness to mature a 

 crop after setting the plants, its beauty and the wide apprecia- 

 tion in which it is held by all as a table fruit, render it the uni- 

 versal fruit for the home. We can readily imagine that among 

 the bounties of the Edenic existence the strawberry was among 

 the first choice fruits, and the choicest of the first fruits given to 

 man. 



OTHER FRUITS THAT FOLLOW. 



Next in value and general estimation comes the raspberry and 

 then the blackberry. Neither are so well suited to the small 

 garden as the strawberry, but may well be included in the 

 farmer's garden along with the currant, and if your disposition 

 will bear it, the gooseberry. The gooseberry is well enough in 

 its place — floating in sugar — but it isn't a berry the majority of 

 people hanker after — we'll except the gooseberry worms, they 

 do. Its cultivation is not so pleasant on account of its thorns, 

 yet many admire the peculiar acid of the gooseberry, especially 

 its flavor in jelly for tarts, etc. 



The currant fills a niche peculiar to itself. Grown to perfec- 

 tion as it may be by any one, but only by good cultivation, it 



