66 MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



4. The average product per plant should be about two pounds, 

 or one and one-eighth pounds per square foot of floor space. 



5. All things considered the Lorillard has proved the most 

 satisfactory tomato for forcing. 



6. Plants liable to become drawn and "leggy" before setting 

 in the field may profitably be held in check by cutting back the 

 tops. 



7. Plants which were mulched matured a few days earlier than 

 those receiving cultivation, but in every other respect the latter 

 were superior. 



8. There was not as much difference as was expected in the 

 results attending frequent and infrequent cultivation. 



IV — Notes op Small Fruits. 



The culture of fruits is as a rule easier, cleaner, less expensive 

 and often more profitable than that of vegetables. The require- 

 ments for labor and fertilizers are less, while with good care the 

 crop is equally certain. From the very nature of the soil and cli- 

 mate of Maine we must look to intensive rather than to extensive 

 operations for the most profitable returns, and at the present time 

 there is no line of work which seems more promising than that of 

 the culture of small fruits. In fruit culture, however, as in all other 

 industries which are profitable, the man who uses his brains will 

 always come out ahead of the one who depends wholly on his 

 muscle. The successful grower must be an efficient, skillful work- 

 man, able to put his hand to any of the operations, but his best 

 energies must be spent in planning and directing rather than in 

 executing. 



The essential elements of success in small fruit growing as a com- 

 mercial venture are : Suitable location ; thorough preparation ; the 

 best varieties ; careful planting ; thorough culture ; the application 

 of business principles in marketing. 



THE strawberry. 



A warm, rather moist sandy loam is usuallj^ preferred in grow- 

 ing this fruit, but in general any soil that will raise a good crop of 

 corn will rise good strawberries. We would not be understood as 

 encouraging neglect in any way, but the minute directions some- 

 times given for preparing the soil and for planting are misleading 

 and are enough to discourage any novice from attempting to grow 

 fruit. 



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