Part I.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. 13 



fair weather conditions, and on the whole was good. Shade- 

 grown tobacco has increased slightly this year, as has also the 

 acreage for open-air tobacco. 



Onions, of which there is usually a very large acreage in the 

 State, decreased somewhat this year, owing especially to bad 

 weather conditions at planting time. The crop was only fair in 

 size, but good in quality, and prices have ruled high. 



The Blueberry. 



Very much interest seems to be taken in the humble blue- 

 berry. The government, through Professor Covill, has been at 

 work, by breeding, to bring the blueberry up to a higher state 

 of cultivation. Judging from results in the improvement of the 

 size of the fruit, if an easy method of propagation can be found, 

 the blueberry bids fair to become one of our easily cultivated 

 fruits. Experiments in New Jersey show remarkable results as 

 to yield and profit. 



This State, with quantities of natural blueberry soil, should 

 consider this problem as one of the most important in relation 

 to much of our wild lands. Certain areas with acid soils would 

 require a great deal of capital to develop them for other crops, 

 but planted to the blueberry could easily be made a source of 

 much profit. Even now with very little work of clearing out 

 brush and weed trees, the blueberry may be made a profitable 

 business on much of our land. As yet, very few figures are 

 obtainable as to the actual value of this crop in this State, but 

 instances have been noted where families have sold as high as 

 $500 worth of the fruit this season, and still quantities of the 

 crop go to waste. 



Co-operation. 

 In these days of high prices for all food products there seems 

 to be a strong desire on the part of consumers to co-operate for 

 their mutual benefit. In times of low prices for farm products 

 there is always the cry from the farmer to co-operate in order 

 to cut costs and get more closely in touch with the market, 

 hoping thereby to get a larger per cent of the consumer's 

 dollar. It seems strange that both these great interests cannot 

 see the mutual benefit at all times of some co-operative plan 



