22d January, A. D. i8gi. 



ESSAY 



BY 



J. HOWARD HALE, of South Glastonbury, Conn. 

 TJieme: — 8mall-Fruits ; their Culture and Variety. 



President Parker introduced Mr. Hale, who proceeded at 

 once to the consideration of his theme. 



He said the increase in the consumption of small-fruits in 

 the cities has been remarkable in the last twenty-five years. 

 As people grow more refined their appetites become refined. 

 A wonderful mental development is going on in this country, 

 and that means an increasing demand for the delicate fruits. 

 The market for poor fruit grows poorer at the same time, and 

 the profits go only to those who grow the best fruit. 



The old method of raising strawberries and raspberries in 

 matted unkempt beds after the first year is no longer profitable. 

 An average family of refined tastes will use 15 to 30 quarts of 

 strawberries a day if given a chance at a field, and the farmer 

 who neglects to plant his own fruit on the plea that his ground 

 is unfitted, and that he can better aflbrd to buy what his family 

 needs, is sure to fail to keep his family supplied with the 

 luscious berries. Every farmer has some land that will produce 

 fruits for the family, and the production of his own food should 

 be his first care. Any one near a small town can cultivate small- 

 fruits at a profit. I should not advise a farmer who is at a dis- 

 tance from a railway to raise small-fruits on a large scale. 

 Generally, any good corn land will be satisfactory. It is well 

 to have a variety of fruits, so that the failure of one crop may 

 not be a failure for the whole year's work. The strawberry is 

 the leading fruit and the first to ripen. If your soil is light the 



