19 



die out badly and the rows are full of vacancies, they get a small crop, and the cry is 

 heard, " It don't pay." Another important point is to 



SET OUT THE LARGEST AND FINEST SORTS, 



even if they do not yield over half to two-thirds of the smaller kinds. Such varieties 

 as Triomphe de Gand, Barnes' Mammoth, Napoleon III. and Jucunda, always com- 

 mand the highest prices, and if there is a glut in the market, such will always sell at 

 •paying^ prices. Let us illustrate this more clearly by a few figures, taking the average 

 prices in New York market on the Wilson's Albany and the largest sorts, and an 

 average crop on a well kept acre. We get 100 bushels of Wilsons, which sell in New 

 Fork at 12J cents per quart, $4 per bushel, amounting to $400. Deduct picking, 1£ 

 cents per quart, $48; commission 10 per cent., $40; express charges, 80 cents per 

 bushel, $80 ; loss and wear and tear of crates and baskets one season to ship 100 

 bushels that distance, $25, and we have an aggregate of $193. Now take an average 

 crop of the larger sorts named — 60 bushels, and the average price in New York the past 

 season, 25 cents per quart, or $8 per bushel, and we have $480. Deduct picking, 1£ 

 cents per quart, $38.40 ; commission, 10 per cent., $48 ; express charges, <»} cents per 

 bushel, $48 ; loss and wear and tear of crates and baskets, 3-5 of the above $25— $15 

 — and we have an aggregate of "$149.40. Now deduct the first figures, $193, from 

 $400, and we have $207 ; and the last, $149.40, from $480, and we have $330,60— thus 

 showing what is gained by growing the larger sorts for such a market. We woul^ 

 say, however, that there will not be this difference in prices in the smaller towns, and 

 that near such the Wilsons pay much the best, as the consumer cares less for the ap- 

 pearance and more for the reality. Then again, there are times in the large cities 

 when the smaller fruits have scarcely any sale, while the larger bring good paying 

 prices, and when such is the case, the first hardly pay expense of shipping, picking 

 and commission, while the last pay good profits. It will be seen we have not figured 

 in the cost of plants, raising and cultivation, or interest and taxes on land, &c. , as 

 these would be the same in raising both the small and large sorts. Now, these same 

 prices hold as good on the raspberry crop, in comparison to the larg'e or firmer sorts, 

 and the smaller or softer kinds, and also with all other fruit; therefore, it is advisable, 

 if one intends to rely on such large cities for shipping most of their fruits, to plant 

 out largely of the largest, finest appearing varieties, and give them the best culture, 

 and. their profits will be large, while those sending in the smaller sorts will hardly pay , 

 expenses. 



We could fill this book with facts that have come under our notice, of persons in 

 ail parts of the country that have been successful, and made enormous sums of money 

 from their strawberries — even in markets where the price was very low ; the secret 

 being that they grew the best varieties and large crops from small pieces of ground. 

 We consider what one has done, hundreds of others can do. 



But to return to the first question — "Have strawberries ceased to be profitable ?" 

 They have, and so has any other crop, providing the raiser does not take enough care 

 or interest in them to make them profitable. Suppose a merchant fills his store full of 

 goods, and then leaves them to Tom, Dick and Harry to sell and take care of— he being 

 around a billiard saloon or tavern half the time. Will he find his business profitable t 

 Or suppose he pays prodigious rents, expenses, &c, and then has a lot of poor un- 

 saleable goods • will he make it pay ? 



All that is necessary to make strawberries profitable, is to have your soil in good 

 order, well manured, deeply plowed, well harrowed, plants well and thickly set in the 

 row, and of pure, unmixed sorts. Then keep the ground well stirred with the culti- 

 vator and hoe, no matter whether there are weeds or not, (and, by the way, we believe 

 it is well for us that weeds do grow, for in working the soil to eradicate them we keep 

 it mellow and pulverized, so that plants are not destroyed by the drouth), and last, 

 but not least, ship them in clean, neat baskets or boxes, and our word for it, you will 

 find them profitable at even six cents per quart, if sold near home, or eight cents if 

 sold at a distance — far more so than the best crop of potatoes that can be grown at 

 the highest rates. "Take an interest in the business, hate weeds, be up with the lark, 

 an&fret with elbow grease," is our motto. 



TIME TO SET STRAWBERRIES. 



In this latitude we set plants in April and May; and September, October and 



November. i 



