1 6 Success with Small Fruits. 



sour that even grass would not grow upon it ; a third portion was not only 

 swampy, but liable to be overwhelmed with stones and gravel twice a year 

 by the sudden rising of a mountain stream. There was no fruit on the 

 place except apples and a very few pears and grapes. Nearly all of the 

 land, as I found it, was too impoverished to produce a decent crop of 

 strawberries. The location of the place, moreover, made it very expen- 

 sive it cost $19,000 and yet during the third year of occupancy the 

 income from this place approached very nearly to the outlay, and in 1878, 

 during which my most expensive improvements were made, in the way of 

 draining, taking out stones, etc., the income paid for these improvements, 

 for current expenses, and gave a surplus of over $i, 800. In 1879, the 

 net income was considerably larger. In order that these statements may 

 not mislead any one, I will add that in my judgment only the combined 

 business of plants and fruit would warrant such expenses as I have incur- 

 red. My farm is almost in the midst of a village, and the buildings upon it 

 greatly increased its cost. Those who propose to raise and sell fruit only 

 should not burden themselves with high-priced land. Farms, even on the 

 Hudson, can be bought at quite moderate prices at a mile or more away 

 from centers, and yet within easy reach of landings and railroad depots. 



Mr. Charles Downing, whose opinions on all horticultural questions 

 are so justly valued, remarked to me that no other fruit was so affected by 

 varying soils and climates as the strawberry. I have come to the conclu- 

 sion that soil, locality and climate make such vast differences that unless 

 these variations are carefully studied and indicated, books will mislead 

 more people than they help. A man may write a treatise admirably 

 adapted to his own farm ; but if one, living a thousand, a hundred, or 

 even one mile away, followed the same method, he might almost utterly 

 fail. While certain general and foundation principles apply to the culti- 

 vation of each genus of fruit, important modifications and, in some 

 instances, almost radical changes of method must be made in view of the 

 varied conditions in which it is grown. 



It is even more important to know what varieties are best adapted to 

 different localities and soils. While no experienced and candid authority 

 will speak confidently and precisely on this point, much very useful infor- 

 mation and suggestion may be given by one who, instead of theorizing, 

 observes, questions and records facts as they are. The most profitable 

 strawberry of the far South will produce scarcely any fruit in the North, 

 although the plant grows well, and some of our best raspberries cannot 

 even exist in a hot climate or upon very light soils. In the preparation of 

 this book it has been my aim to study these conditions, that I might give 



