STATE POltOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 81 



averagebuj-er of small fruits goes about the business as though they 

 were never inteuded to be eaten, they use the e3'e only in buyino-, 

 and fine large showy fruit, sells quickly at high prices regardless of 

 quality, while high flavored fruit sella slowly and at low prices if it 

 is not of show}^ appearance. 



There are a few customers in every town and city who appreciate 

 and will pay for quality, but they are so few in number that their 

 trade is comparatively small, and will hardly attract our attention. 

 "We must therefore bow to the popular demand and grow such 

 varieties as will 3'ield the greatest number of quarts of large berries 

 of as good form and color as it is possible to obtain. If with these 

 we can combine fine flavor so much the better, but one who is after 

 profit from the business must not sacrifice fine appearance for 

 quality It is a shame to be obliged to say this here in New England 

 where we are supposed to appreciate the best of everything, yet it is 

 one of those hard facts that we have to face, possibly the time will 

 come when horticulture will be taught in our public schools and our 

 town and village people working in the local horticultural society 

 for the sake of its ornamental feature will gradually learn that there 

 is a vast ditftfrcnce in the quality of our fruits, and in time will buy 

 them on their merits as to quality. Yet, under existing conditions, 

 study the markets that you are to supply, then visit growers in your 

 neighborhood, county and state, and learn from them what are the 

 well tested and approved varieties, and make the largest share of 

 your plantings of these. 



On my own fruit farm of some eighty acres the old standard 

 Crescent, Windsor and Downing strawberries, Cuthbert and Sowhe- 

 gan raspberry ; Snyder blackberry, and Victoria currant have always 

 been profitable. Jessie, Bubach, Pineapple and Miami strawberries. 

 Carmen and Scarlet Gem rasphenies, Lucretia dewberry and Fay 

 currant among the newer varieties are wonderfully fine, and are 

 likely to surpass many of the old ones, and there are many others 

 that are fast coming to the front, but I am not here to advertise 

 new fruits. The world is improving all the time, and so are our 

 small fruits, yet do not rush headlong into highly praised new ones. 

 Test them all in a small way and you will surely find some that are 

 just suited to your soil and market, thus obtaining for yourself an 

 advantage not possessed by others. The man who is always look- 

 ing for something better is the one who makes the most out of the 

 old varieties as he gives them the best culture. His neighbors may 



