THE CANADIAN' HOUTICULTUKIST. I'jt 



from weeds, regularly supplied with food, and to be properly trimmed. 

 To do this was irksome, especially to one who did not know how to do 

 it properly. Besides, it was small business in comparison with the 

 more important cro[)S of the farm, and the farmer felt that weightier 

 interests demanded all his time and thought. There is some change 

 in this i-espect for the better, but not all that there might be, not all 

 Uiat a true appreciation of our small fruits will yet produce. Those 

 i'armers who live near to the larger villages and towns have many ot 

 them discovered than an acre or so of small fruits is a very profitable 

 acre, and well repays all the outlay for planting, tilling, and fertilizing. 

 In a pecuniary point of view it pays. But we wish to call the attention 

 of our readers to the fact that a supply O'f small fruits sufficient for tiie 

 ilaily use of the farmer's family during their season pays large, pays 

 better than the village or city market, pays in many ways, pays far 

 beyond any money value. Will it be necessary just here to stop and 

 dem tnstrate that the acquisition of money is not the most important 

 object in life? True, many live as though it was. To very many it 

 doubtless is. There are men who will sacrifice health, and peace, and 

 even life itself in the acquisition of money. But does it pay ? 



There is something of value in being able to supply one's table 

 with an agreeable variety. It is not conducive to our happiness or our 

 health to be confined to a very limited number of articles of food 

 And He who best knows the wants of the physical man has furnished 

 us with not only the staff of life, but with many other articles of food 

 as adjuncts to that, which play no unimportant part in the perfect 

 development and healthful continuance of our bodies. The wise man 

 will seek to avail himself of these, and will find in our summer fruits 

 a convenient and designed supply. As the summer heat begins, how 

 gi-ateful is the strawberry, with its mingled sweet and sour, counteracting 

 the bilious tendencies of the season, and refreshing while it gratifies. 

 Scarcely will it have passed away before the raspberry comes to con- 

 tinue the acid tonic with a change of flavors, thus enticing us in the 

 use of a diet so healthful, until the ripening of the currants, and the 

 gooseberries and the blackberries, and the grapes, as the season 

 advances, gives ample scope for all our likes and dislikes, and an 

 abundant supply of nutritious food and most agreeablp medicine, lor 

 the sake of your health then, and that of your families, you will set 



