No. 4.] FRUIT GROWING. 223 



Of course many of these items are going to vary considerably 

 under difficult circumstances, more particularly in the number 

 and price of trees, but the total here is a fair average. When 

 one adds to this the cost of the acre of land, $10, $20, $50, or 

 even $100, the cost of the acre of orchard when established is 

 certainly very moderate. The expenses of operating the orchard 

 while young will run about as follows: — 



Pruning, $2 50 



Fitting the land (plowing and harrowing), 3 60 



Fertilizing, 2 55 



Cultivation, 4 50 



Hoeing, " 1 00 



Cover crop, 2 00 



$16 15 



Thus far we have spoken almost entirely of the orchard side 

 of fruit growing, but let no man imagine that this is the only 

 side from which good returns may be secured. All kinds of 

 small fruits, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants 

 and gooseberries offer excellent opportunities for profitable 

 returns. Indeed, the perishable nature of these fruits, and the 

 fact that when allowed to become fully matured before picking 

 they are much finer than when picked green, makes them es- 

 pecially profitable to the local grower. It is nothing uncom- 

 mon, for example, to see the price of strawberries jump from 

 two baskets for a quarter, on stufi' shipped in from a distance, 

 to 25 cents a basket (or even 55 cents for really choice berries) 

 when the first natives come on the market. 



Let us say in conclusion that we have tried to be conservative 

 in the brief presentation we have attempted of the opportunities 

 for making money out of the fruit business in Massachusetts. 

 Any one who has ever attempted to discuss a proposition in 

 which he thoroughly believes knows that it is sometimes difficult 

 to restrain one's enthusiasm. We feel sure we are right, but 

 whether right or wrong we extend a cordial welcome to any 

 who are interested to make further investigation. 



