114 



lend themselves to shipping, and if we can get them direct- 

 ly to the consumer in a fresh, nice state, the consumption of 

 them will be ten times as great as at the present time. So, 

 if you are going into the business be sure to get near a 

 good market and look up all the markets you can, because 

 I ihink that is one of the most important things you have 

 got to consider. 



In regard to soil and preparation, whatever soil you 

 have, just use one that will grow good corn or potatoes, 

 thai has an abundant supply of moisture. I would rather 

 use a soil that required draining rather than one that re- 

 quired irrigating, and then you will have plenty of moisture 

 a' the ime you need it most which is the fruiting season. 

 You can grow any kind of small fruit on dry soil, but you 

 cer-ainly need a good deal of wa^er at the time of planting 

 and it is better to have a soil that needs draining rather 

 than one that is dry. Then the preparation should be very 

 thorough; you should be as thorough and careful for small 

 frui's as you would be with any other crop. The root system 

 is very delicate and small entirely different from apples and 

 irees and the root is near the surface; therefore the soil 

 preparaion should be very thorough. I should recommend 

 plowing and getting well prepared for the crop at least the 

 previous ypar being sure to get rid of all the grass and 

 w*^'^d«!, ^^hich it is very hard to do afier they are put into 

 >-• .;rro';nd; 



("i'^ance from plant to plant depends a good deal 



• I of cultivation you are going to give. In straw- 



■ ■• ma' ted system set 4 by 2 ft. or hills 14 to 18 



according to the variety. With currants and 



about 4 by 6 ft. or 6 by 6 ft. according to the 



''^; and for blackberries and raspberries, 6 by 6 



^ f\, if you are going to keep the direct row. 



: 'stion of variety comes up again. If you are go- 



^ '^' at a near point you want the very best, but if 



hip away some of the firmer and harder varie- 



M' planied but you can't have quality and still 



r Tmit stand up in a long distance shipment. 



'; of the soil for small fruits should be as thorough 



.;:; any vegetable crop. Unlike the apple tree 



^^jpy be grown in sod. For the raspberries and 



currants and gooseberries there can be a par- 



p pu^ on during the late summer, but for straw- 



