Farmers who possess moderately large farms are now extensi- 

 vely engaged in this industry, and in such cases the rent of land 

 under strawberries will not exceed i per acre, whereas the small 

 holder will be paying up to 5 per acre for similar ground. It 

 may safely be assumed that land has now reached its maximum 

 value in these districts. 



Small Holdings. Many of the larger areas have been divided 

 into small holdings or plots varying in size from five to two acres^ 

 or even less ; while the fact that one acre of strawberries may rea- 

 lise a profit of 50 is responsible for the general air of respecta- 

 bility and good management presented by these holdings, Among 

 the population composed of strawberry growers, there are no signs 

 of poverty, such as are witni ssed in many semi-rural districts. 

 A man can make a moderate living from two acres of land, while 

 in many instances a man. his wife and family are comfortably 

 provided lor on a holding of four acres. House accomodation is 

 scarce, as in most instances the houses attached to each holding 

 are either the property of the small holder himself, or are being 

 gradually acquired by him on a system of easy payments, in ad- 

 dition to which, in the majority of cases, he is gradually paying 

 for the freehold of his land. 



While 50 is given as the average return per acre, the figure 

 may fall as low as 20, while in a favourable season it may rise 

 to as much as 100. It must not be supposed that strawberry 

 growing is unattended by any risks, and the beginner who is only 

 possessed of a limited capital will find that such influences as, for 

 example, late frosts towards the end of April .or in early May spell 

 disaster to his crop, and involve the loss of the greater portion of 

 his capital. " 



" Insect Pests. Like all other plants which are raised to a high 

 standard of cultivation, strawberries are assailed by a variety of 

 insect pests, among the most prevalent and destructive of which 

 is the wireworm. Where new ground is broken up and not over- 

 deeply trenched, the grubs commence their ravages on newly-formed 

 plantations, and continue to work havoc among the roots so long 

 as the plantations exist. When new plantations immediately succeed 

 old ones, the young plants are often completely destroyed. A good 

 dressing with gaslime at the time of preparing the plantation is 

 the only effectual means of ridding badly infested areas of these 

 pests. The poisonous nature of some of the constituents of this 

 waste product, however, renders it necessary to allow a period of 

 rest of about four months before commencing planting operations. 



