32 The Connecticut Pomological Society 



one way or the other. We know the demand for and con- 

 sumption of small fruits has greatly, increased, but has it fully 

 kept pace with the rapid and wide increase in production ? 

 Opinions seem to vary in regard to this. Small fruits have for 

 several years been sold as cheaply as they could be produced 

 at any profit. I think perhaps for the last six years prices 

 have averaged less than at any great length of time previous, 

 although there have been years all along when prices would 

 run down pretty low. We need not expect much of a change, 

 as, if we have a short crop locally or anything causes a good 

 demand or an increase in price, inside of a few hours it is 

 flashed over the telegraph or told over the telephone, which 

 has so completely put one place in connection with another, 

 that the market is soon supplied, thus keeping the price from 

 rising very much. 



"I don't know that we can grow our fruit much if any 

 cheaper to-day than for the last twenty years. Labor costs 

 just about the same, and we pay just the same price for 

 picking. Crates and baskets are quite a little cheaper, which 

 is about the only perceptible difference. 



"The grower of all fruits must strive to grow the best, as 

 with the market well filled it is much easier to sell a good 

 article than an inferior one, and there is a great deal more 

 pleasure in it, as well as often a better price. The time is 

 here when it is imperative to try and grow the very best of 

 everything that we grow upon the farm. This has always 

 been the best plan, but to-day we are without choice if we 

 are going to succeed and make any money. We must do 

 this; selecting only the best varieties, giving all crops the best 

 of care and fertilization, and by so doing, doubt not you will 

 find the balance on the right side of the ledger." 



The President: "If there are any questions to ask Mr. 

 Farnham, they had better come up at this time, as that com- 

 pletes the small fruit papers." 



Dr. Smith: "I would like to ask Mr. Farnham how he 

 fertilizes for two or three years for strawberries?" 



Mr. Farnham: "I use some commercial fertilizer, but 

 almost always use, to a certain extent, stable manure, particu- 

 larlv on certain kinds of ground. I do not use that so much 



