130 BUSH-FRUITS 



Taking up plants in the spring ..... . . $2 50 



Cultivating and hoeing ......... . . 8 00 



Mulching .................. 12 00 



Nipping-back and trimming ......... 5 00 



Laying down for winter ........... 7 50 



Tools, etc .................. 5 00 



$40 00 



The estimates for labor are made on the basis of 

 paying $1.25 per day for men and $2.50 per day for a 

 man and team. The system of mulching, as elsewhere 

 explained, consists in growing clover on separate pieces 

 of ground, cutting and spreading it green along the 

 rows, and cultivating the center. The expenses of 

 gathering and marketing, Mr. Thayer places as fol- 

 lows: 



Picking per quart ............. $0 



Boxes and cases .............. 01 



Packing and selling ............ 01 



Total expense per quart ........ $0 03% 



Mr. Thayer admits that these figures show a high 

 cost of production, but feels confident that any reduc- 

 tion means diminished profits, therefore is not to be 

 permitted. This method of treatment gave over 2,000 

 bushels from ten acres of the Ancient Briton variety in 

 one year. This is, of course, a remarkable yield, but 

 the average on those farms is unquestionably far above 

 that of most growers. Mr. Thayer concludes that 

 under their conditions at that time, a yield of 200 

 bushels per acre gave a net profit of nearly $250 per 

 acre, while 100 bushels per acre would give about 



