366 



How THE FARM PAYS. 



GLOSSY CONE. Although this has been grown by the raiser, Mr. 

 Durand, for several years, it was issued last season for the first time. 

 In a test of fifty kinds in our grounds, we found it the earliest of all, 

 and very prolific, of good size, fine flavor, and altogether has a com- 

 bination of good qualities rarely found in any early strawberry. Its 

 only fault is, that it is rather a weak grower, and requires a rich and 

 rather heavy soil to develop its best qualities. 



Strawberries rarely sell at less than an average of $8 per 100 quarts, 

 and when retailed to the consumer, average one-third more. As 

 about 20,000 plants are grown on an acre, and an average crop under 



BIDWELL STKAWBEBKY. 



SHAEPLESS STEAWBEEBY. 



good culture will give at least 5,000 quarts per acre, the crop, when 

 sold even at lowest rates, is a very profitable [one. But it is a crop 

 that must be promptly attended to in hoeing and weeding. It never 

 can be made profitable under slipshod culture, for, from the 

 nature of the plant, it cannot defend itself against weeds, and if 

 neglected will quickly get overwhelmed and destroyed. Thousands 

 of acres of strawberries are planted annually, which, from the want of 

 prompt work at the proper time, are allowed to be destroyed by 

 weeds. At a small cost in labor at the proper time, such crops might 

 have paid a clear profit of $300 per acre. 



BLACKBERRIES. 



Although blackberries are found in a wild state in almost all 

 sections of the country, yet the varieties are so much inferior to the 

 cultivated kinds, that it is poor economy to depend on them for a 



