1864. 



THE ILLINOIS FAKMEE. 



229 



: Early Scarlet, McAvoy, Iowa, Kin- 

 ney's Seedling, Longworth, Keck Pine 

 and Triumph de (land, form a list iVom 

 "which a selection can be made that will 

 give good satisfaction. Dr. Meeker 

 was at our place the 18th and informed 

 us that the season of this fruit had 

 closed with them on the 16th, making 

 24 days, though the active time of ship- 

 ping was only fifteen days, lo-day 

 will close the marketing; with us, mak- 

 ing some fifteen days of active ship- 

 ment, though the season - will linger 

 three or four days more, for family, and 

 giving us about the same number of 

 days when this fruit is in its season, by 

 availing ourselves of the Early Scarlet, 

 but to rely on the AYilson the season 

 would be shorter. 



We have a patch of Early Scarlet 



and McAvoy in the garden, two by 

 twelve rods, that has been in bearing 

 eight years. Alternate strips, some 

 eighteen inches wide, have been spa- 

 ded up annually and the plants turned 

 under, finely raked and the weeds and 

 grass wed out of the strips of plants not 

 disturbed with the spade. For family 

 use we think this the cheapest and 

 safest mode to be pursued. After the 

 ground is frozen it should be mulched 

 with fine manure or rotten straw ; and 

 early in spring rake the surface thor- 

 oughly, taking off the dead leaves and 

 trash. This leaves the surface in a good 

 condition, and the plants will make a 

 vigorous growth that will insure a fair 

 crop under almost any condition of the 

 weather ; at least we never think of a 

 failure. By this mode of culture we 

 would recommend at least half the space 

 to be occupied with pistillate varieties, 

 and the other half with staminates, such 

 as Early Scarlet, Iowa, and the Wilson. 



The Eev. J. Knox, of Pittsburg, 

 finds the hill system the most profita- 

 ble : his berries are larjje and command 

 a high price. For this purpose he uses 

 staminate varieties, such as the Tri- 

 umph and Wilson. Doubtless this is 

 the best for market, as it produces fruit 

 that will command a ready sale at a 

 high price — two points of interest to 

 the grower. The spring is thereby far 

 the best time to set out the plants, tho' 

 any rainy spell during tiie summer will 

 answer very well ; but this time is not 

 to be relied on and should be resorted 

 to only in case of necessity. 



We hear large stories in regard to 

 the yield of fruit, but our ambition is 

 very well gratified with fifty bushels to 

 the acre. 



Berries are sold by wine measure, or 

 thirty-six quarts to the bushel ; this 

 would give eighteen hundred quarts to 

 the acre, which at 15c delivered at the 

 station, would amount to $270. De- 

 duct 1,8' boxes at l^- cts, |27 ; 1,^00 

 qts., picking at 3c, $54 ; leaving to the 

 grower $18y ; a sum that should satisfy 

 the ambition of most men, and tend to 

 extend the culture ot this fruit. But to 

 attain this result the strawbery must 

 have good culture and be attende^l to 

 in season. 



-«mf- 



Small Fruits. 



The" culture of the so called small 

 fruits is rapidly extending, and promi- 

 ses within a few years to form an im- 

 portant part of the daily food of all well 

 regulated families. Usually we begin 

 with the strawberry May 25th ; currant 

 pies and sauce have for some da3^s giv- 

 en variety to rhubarb ; June 10th the 

 May cherry is added ; when gooseber- 

 ries are also in order. The 20th of June 



