NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



103 



STUAWBEREIES. 



Hovei/s Seedling. 



Sivainstone s Seedling. 



FLORAL CONDITION OF THE STRAWBERRY. 



Ft.rfect. 



Early Virginia. 



Staminate 



Burrs Nov Fine 



The strawberry is one of the most wholesome 

 and delicious of all fruits; and as it is the earliest, 

 and very cooling and refreshing at tlie hot season 

 in which it comes in, it is worthy of more exten- 

 sive cultivation. Every person who has a spot of 

 land sufficient, should cultivate this fruit that he 

 may liave it fresh from the vines. Two square 

 rods, under good management, will generally yield 

 30 to 40 quarts, which may be had in succession 

 for three weeks, by cultivating two or three kinds. 

 Farmers, by cultivating this fruit for their families, 

 will save more than all the expense in meat, butter 

 &c., and make their meals more wholesome and 

 acceptable. 



The strawberry is becoming a very important 

 fruit for the market. Several years ago, when all 

 the strawberries raised, for this market, were less 

 in quantity than the single crop of some individu- 

 als now, it was apprehended that the increase of j 

 this fruit would injure the sale, and reduce the 

 price; but the demand has increased faster than the 

 production, and strawberries now sell more readily 

 and at higher prices than they did when there was 

 not one-twentieth part as many brought to market. 



Under good management, this is a profitable 

 crop. The produce of an acre varying from $200 



to $800 to the acre. General average, under 

 good culture, about $400. Some crops have exceed- 

 ed $1,000 to the acre. Again, from winter-killing 

 of plants, drought and other causes, the crop may 

 be small. 



Notwithstanding this is a small fruit, and grows 

 on a little plant, yielding a good crop the first year 

 after it is set, it has produced 4,000 quarts, or 125 

 bushels, to the acre. More than any of our grains 

 yield, and equal to the average crop of potatoes, 

 and selling at 20 to 30 cents a quart. 



Cincinnati is the greatest strawberry market in 

 the world. In one year the amount sold there was 

 0,000 bushels. One cultivator carried to the mar- 

 ket 128 bushels daily during the height of tlie sea- 

 son. 



With the great facilities for bringing in tiiis fruit 

 on railroads, from places where lands are cheaper 

 and more fertile than in tliis region, and from tlie 

 introduction of new varieties, and improvements in 

 cultivation, we have no doubt that in a few years 

 strawberries can be raised at a profit, and sold at 20 

 to 30 per cent, less than the usual prices at present. 

 If this should be the case, there will be a demand 

 for three or four times as many as at present. A 

 family that buys only two or three boxes of straw- 



