124 ABC OF STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 



many important matters crowded I hatdly dared ask them to 

 treat us to some music. Now, I suppose women-folks should be 

 free to choose an occupation, just as men are ; but if it were 

 myself, or if it were my daughters under consideration, I should 

 say, " Give me strawberry culture a hundred times over, rather 

 than schoolteaching or any of the other employments open to 

 wom^n-folks." When I mention these rural pursuits, and the 

 wonderful success some have met, the constant objection raised 

 is, that the markets are frequently overstocked. Strawberries 

 a week ago sold in our town at 5 cents a quart. Ours, however, 

 when freshly picked, at the same time brought 8 cents readily. 



When I was there, the Gandy had just begun to bear. 

 Friend T. had taken a sample to Hudson, and they brought a 

 dollar a peck, without any trouble. No wonder, for they look- 

 ed like luscious peaches or plums, more than like strawberries. 

 As we stood by the buggy, ready to bid our friends adieu, I 

 ventured the remark, "Friend T., why don't you have 14 acres 

 of strawberries instead of 14 acres of potatoes? They would 

 not be very much more trouble, and then, think what a lot of 

 money you would have." 



He shook his head, and smiled. I don't remember just 

 what he said, but it conveyed an idea to me something like 

 this: 



"Fourteen acres of strawberries would make my home a 

 thoroughfare. Its quiet and sanctity would be invaded. My 

 wife and daughters, instead of having this quiet pretty home 

 all to themselves, would have seclusion and peace no longer. 

 It is true, I might make more money ; but I am not working 

 for money. It is not the end and object I have in view. I am 

 a farmer, and always expect to be one. I love my work be- 

 cause I am enabled by it to demonstrate what farmers' homes 

 may be, compared with what many of them are at the present 

 moment I want to see farmers' boys and girls find something 

 to do at home on their farms. I want them to love the farmer's 

 home, and to feel proud of it. I want them to find peace, com- 



