EFFFCTS OF DROUGHT 103 



raspberry that when evaporated its quality is fully 

 equal, if not superior, to that of the true reds, while 

 the yield of dried fruit per bushel is not very far below 

 that of the black- caps. It is certainly an excellent 

 berry to dry for the home market, where the price 

 can be made to conform to the cost of production. 

 The man who is growing berries to evaporate is not 

 likely to suffer so seriously from drought as the one 

 who sells his fruit fresh. Dry weather reduces the 

 number of quarts per acre much more than the number 

 of pounds of dried fruit. A long drought, extending 

 through the early part of the season, does injure the 

 yield, but dry weather at ripening time only, need 

 cause no serious loss if the cultivation has been fre- 

 quent and thorough. In fact, the man who will culti- 

 vate thoroughly enough is practically independent of 

 drought. 



USUAL PROFITS 



Basing an estimate on the above figures for average 

 yields, we may look for 750 pounds of dried fruit per 

 acre, with thoroughly good management. Judging from 

 past experience, this product, through a series of years, 

 is likely to average from fifteen to twenty cents per 

 pound, making a gross return of $112.50 to $150 

 per acre from fields in full bearing. The cost of 

 harvesting and marketing may be summed up about 

 as follows: Harvesting at one-half cent per quart, 

 $12.50 ; evaporating at two and one -half cents per 

 pound, $18.75 ; cleaning for market at one cent per 



