A B C OF STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 123 



grow in one hill, it is like having eight or ten stalks of corn in 

 a hill you have only nubbins instead of fine large ears. This 

 single potato-stalk produces only a few potatoes ; but as these 

 are not crowded at all, they are large, fine-shaped ones ; and 

 his potatoes, like his strawberries, command an extra price. 

 Some time last fall I sent friend Terry an order for 25 bushels 

 of potatoes, to be kept for seed. I was too late. They were 

 sold out, and I was astonished to learn during this visit that 280 

 different people sent money for potatoes, after the potatoes were 

 gone. That is worse than any thing we have done or better, 

 whichever you choose to call it. The receipts for strawberries 

 during the day I was there were something over $23.00. 



When I mention about friend Terry's farming, many peo- 

 ple reply at once, " Oh, yes ! friend Terry has got money, and 

 can afford to hire all the help he needs." 



Now, this is a sad mistake. One great feature of Terry's 

 farming is to manage with the very smallest amount of help. 

 If I am correct, he has only one hired man, aside from himself 

 and boy, and the assistance his wife and daughters give in ber- 

 ry-picking. Many people ask, with wonder expressed in their 

 eyes, "Why, do Mr. Terry's daughters work outdoors in the 

 strawberry-beds?" Yes, my friend, they do. After they had 

 finished their education, they, like most young ladies, wanted 

 something to do. They might teach school, clerk in the store, 

 or perhaps find a situation in an office in some of our large 

 cities. They preferred to stay at home, however, and work 

 with their father, rather than be " bossed " by some one who is 

 not their father. Do you blame them ? Their father suggested 

 that they raise strawberries, instead of teaching school ; and I 

 think they are getting more money than most schoolteachers. 

 I did not see them picking strawberries when I was there, be- 

 cause it rained. As they were living at home, and working for 

 their father, they could work when they chose. I looked sev- 

 eral times longingly at the beautiful large piano that has re- 

 cently been purchased, and which stood right in sight ; but so 



