SMALL FRUITS. 79 



more delicious berry when ripe than some of the EngHsh and 

 American varieties. The gooseberry is propagated by layers and 

 cuttings, the former method being the better. Cultural methods are 

 very much the same as for the currant. Mildew is the greatest 

 enemy of the gooseberry but the careful selection of varieties will 

 tend to reduce this evil. The best varieties are, American: Down- 

 ing, Houghton, and Red Jacket; English: Chautaucjua, Industry, 

 and Columbus. 



The cranberry, which I will not attempt to discuss in detail, is a 

 very important crop in Massachusetts. Some idea of the amount 

 of this fruit marketed here can be obtained from the following fig- 

 ures. In 1875 the crop in Massachusetts was estimated at 110,184 

 bushels, valued at $288,113; in 1885, 315,387 bushels, valued at 

 $788,467. So if the crop has more than doubled in the ten years 

 between 1875 and 1885, it must certainly be valued at over one 

 million dollars at present. A few other statistics may be of inter- 

 est, but as these refer to the years 1875 and 1885 they are perhaps 

 of not as much value as more recent ones. 



1875 1885 



Bushels. Value. Bushels. Value. 



The Strawberry 1,156,801 $214,940 3,929,497 qts. .$406,859 



Currant ' 146,558 10,605 318,588 28,631 

 Blackberry There was no 



report in 1875. 382,163 38,624 



Red Raspberries 335,694 32,841 



The spraying of all small fruits will be a necessity in a few years, 

 if indeed it is not now. The ravages of insect pests, of fungous 

 growths, mildew and blight, can only be successfully held in check 

 by constant spraying, and the sooner growers come to realize this 

 the less we shall hear of failures with small fruits. 



The profitable part of small fruit culture is not entirely in the 

 dollars and cents which may be derived from it, but rather in the 

 experience, the out-of-door life, the closer touch with nature, and 

 above all in the unlimited amount of keen enjoyment and entire 

 satisfaction one realizes in the production of delicious and beauti- 

 ful fruit. 



