CHAPTER VIII 



Small Fruits 



Small fruits are the parents of large enjoyment. 



— Buck McCrawley. 



" My small fruit garden," writes Mrs. Zacheus 

 McAllister of Maine, " is about 195 feet long north 

 and south by 115 feet wide, with a portion in the 

 northwest corner 33 by 75 feet, taken up by a hen- 

 house, also four rows of red raspberries 140 feet 

 long and three rows of blackberries 75 feet long. 



" A part of the first row at the extreme north 

 border is taken up by currants, set under and be- 

 tween plum and pear trees, all set before my com- 

 ing to the farm nearly 20 years ago. The white 

 currants were bought of a nursery agent, while the 

 red are of more ancient origin. They bore freely 

 for a few years, but the worms troubled them badly, 

 and they were unprofitable for a few years until we 

 sprayed with paris green, and now have little 

 trouble with the worms, as so few mature. After 

 several years I obtained as a premium to a maga- 

 zine three Fay's Prolific currants, which bore their 

 first fruit ten years ago. They were so large and 

 nice that I began rooting some by laying down the 

 branches in the early part of the season and trans- 

 planting the following year 3 feet apart in the row 

 and rows 4 feet apart. I have never tried rooting 

 from cuttings. 



" Ten years ago I set 12 purple gooseberries, 

 from which new ones were rooted in the same 

 manner as the currants, until three rows 36 feet 



