66 Among- tJie Berries. 



up from the river, and sawed into bolts or sections about two feet in length. 

 The bolt, being stripped of its bark, is adjusted in a huge lathe ; and a 

 heavy chisel, which reaches across its entire face, being brought up against 

 it as it revolves, it is quickly converted into a perfectly smooth cylinder. 

 Being thence transferred to another lathe, and again made to revolve, a 

 metal cylinder, containing steel punches exactly the size and shape of the 

 box desired, is pressed up against it. The punches penetrate a certain 

 depth into the wood. On the opposite side of the log, a wide chisel being 

 forced up against it, the perforated circumference is shaved off in the shape 

 of a stout veneer, and the complete forms of about seventy boxes fall ever}- 

 minute upon an endless apron, as fast and thick, in fact, as four boys can 

 get them away by the armful. The log is thus unwound, not sawed, until 

 the residuum is a stick of only a few inches in diameter. The machine is 

 a perfect automaton, and consumes log after log with amazing rapidit)-. 

 The boxes thus cut out are folded together like a pocket-book, with a 

 peculiar combination of interlocking tucks, which keep the box together 

 without a single nail being used. They are made and sold so cheaply, that 

 the fruit-grower can afford to let the box go with the fruit. Nothing but 

 the enormous extent to which fruit-growing is carried on in this region 

 could thus profitably employ an eighty-horse engine in manufacturing what 

 is really a gift-box. 



The celebrated Philadelphia Raspberry is now loaded with young fruit. 

 This plant has been thoroughly tested on the two cardinal points of hardi- 

 ness and productiveness. It passed through the terrible winter of 1865-6 

 not only unprotected, but uninjured ; that winter bringing us the coldest 

 January since the settlement of New Jersey. One grower in this county 

 avers that he has picked two hundred bushels from an acre. Those who 

 see a well-cared-for plantation when in full fruit will be disposed to belie\'e 

 it capable of producing even such an extraordinary crop. The flavor of 

 this berry is good, though not so remarkably fine as that of some others ; 

 but the fruit is of good size and color, — a deep purple, — and commands 

 full prices in market. I have never failed in securing from it an abundant 

 crop. The Philadelphia will probably supersede many other varieties, be- 

 cause of its immense productiveness, as quantity rather than quality is the 

 great desideratum with those who grow fruit for market. This plant is 



