THE CULTURE OF SMALL FRUITS. 361 



CHAPTER XII. 



PRINCIPAL SMALL FRUIT CROPS. 



As with vegetables, so there are many fruits that can be cultivated 

 with but little trouble on the farm, particularly the kinds known as 

 small fruits, which consist of strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, 

 currants and grapes. The larger fruits, apples, pears, peaches, 

 cherries, plums and quinces, may also be grown in limited quantities 

 with advantage. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



This fruit is perhaps the most important of all, as there is hardly a 

 town where this fruit cannot be sold at remunerative rates. For, as 

 is the case with fresh vegetables, the want of fresh fruits at our 

 summer hotels and boarding houses is rarely sufficiently supplied. 

 As strawberries occupy the most important place, we will here describe 

 their culture at greater length than will be necessary with most of 

 the others, and for that purpose I will insert in full my essay on that 

 subject written in 1882, which I am happy to know has already been 

 the means of causing hundreds to grow this delicious fruit with suc- 

 cess never before attained. 



STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 



Strawberries will grow on almost any soil, but it is all-important 

 that it be well drained, either naturally or artificially; in fact, this is 

 true for the well-being of nearly all plants, as few plants do well on 

 soils where the water does not freely pass off. 



Thorough culture requires that the soil should be first dug or 

 plowed, then spread over with at least three inches of thoroughly 

 rotted stable manure, which should be dug or plowed under, so far as 

 practicable, to mix it with the soil. If stable manure cannot be had, 

 artificial manure, such as ground bone dust, etc. , should be sown on 

 the dug or plowed ground, thick enough to nearly cover it, then har- 

 rowed or chopped in with a fork, so that it is well mixed with the soil 



