STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 157 



dn' season. Taking an average of seasons, we will say that it would 

 take four days' work to clean an aore of the larger plantation and 

 that it would need cleaning four times before the first crop is grown. 

 That would be 64 days for the four acres, which at $1.50 per day 

 would amount to $96. It would be fair to estimate that half of those 

 $48 would be saved in labor by our plan of intensive culture. 



"When we come to the picking I think all will agree that it would 

 cost not more than half as much to pick 200 bushels from one acre 

 as from four. If it costs two cents per quart for picking, on the 

 larger plat, it could be done for one cent on the smaller, and this 

 saving of one cent per quart, or $64 on 200 bushels, would afford a 

 moderate profit on an acre. We have figured out savings as follows : 



In rent of land $24 00 



In manure . 40 00 



In plants ... 72 60 



In culture 48 00 



In picking 64 00 



Total $248 60 



This in 200 bushels, or nearly 4 cents per quart. If the agricul- 

 ;tural strawberry grower comes out about even growing strawberries 

 hy farmers' methods, the horticultural grower might make a few cents 

 per quart at the reduced cost. 



Very likely considerably more can be done in cheapening produc- 

 tion by extensive culture in strawberries than in other small fruits, 

 but the same principle holds good in all. It is quite doubtful whether 

 plantations of black raspberries, covering from 40 to 80 acres, yield 

 upon an average more than 50 bushels per acre, yet 150 bushels are 

 a possible yield. By cultivating so as to produce the latter amount 

 you save the rent of two acres, the value of nearly 5,000 plants, and 

 quite a sum in manure and labor. Raspberries planted six feet by 

 three require 2,420 plants to the acre. To grow 150 bushels, 4,800 

 quarts, on those plants, every hill must j-ield about two quarts. 

 There must be no vacancies and every hill must contain quite a num- 

 ber of strong, vigorous canes, and every cane must be productive. 

 8uch results can only be achieved by thorough, intensive culture. 



The same methods would undoubtedly result in cheapening pro- 

 duction of blackberries, currants, and grapes. I have visited a great 

 many small-fruit farms during the last fifteen years, and the difference 

 in yields where slack, partial culture and high, thorough culture were 



