For the Southern States. 



97 



and distributed in long piles through the middles where it will 

 be handy when needed. We do not approve of placing tlie ma- 

 terial around the plants uutil wanted, as it shades the ground, 

 prevents the formation of roots and development of the fruit buds 

 and foliage. In fact, it needs all the sunshine possible. When 

 the berries aie about half grown, then the work of mulching must 

 be done, if you wish clean and marketable fruit. In our pine 

 lands, nothing is better than pine straw, but grass, broom sedge, 

 forest leaves, or branches of evergreen will answer ; the fruit and 

 foliage must be lifted carefully and the material placed under- 

 neath. The good effects will be seen by an abundance of clean, 

 mei'chantable fruit, and th« increased price obtained when offered 

 for sale. Washing the fruit is very objectionable ; it is a lazy 

 makeshift, spoils the liavor, ruins the berry and is a device prac- 

 ticed only by the shiftless growers in the vicinity of market to 

 avoid work. 



PICKING AND MARKETING. 



The careful planter will see before the time of picking comes 

 that he is provided with an ample supply of crates and boxes -, 

 a shed or piece of canvas for shelter, and a low table made 

 of plank for packing; also, a number of checks or cards, with 

 numbers printed thereon — the latter to be punched out as each 

 box of fruit is delivered to the superintendent or packer. When 

 all is ready, each picker should be provided with a tray or box, with 

 handles, to contain, say, ten boxes of fruit, Success with straw- 

 berries depends much on the character of the man who raises 

 them. If he gains a reputation for honesty, carefulness and fair 

 dealing he will have to adopt the following rules : Pick nothing 

 but sound, well ripened and perfect fruit. Give good measure, 

 and llave the boxes well filled. Pack tightly in the crates, and 

 conve.y carefully to the shipping point. Select an honest, cap- 

 able merchant to dispose of the fruit, pay him a fair commission 

 for so doing, and your fruit will always -ind a ready sale at full 

 market prices. 



THE PROFITS OF STRAWBERRY GROWING. 



Of course the profits will depend much upon the seasons, We 

 have never known a complete failure of the strawberry crop in 

 the Gulf States. But we think we are not far out of the way 

 when we give the average net proceeds of an acre of land prop- 

 erly cultivated in strawberries at one hundred dollars. 



VARIETIES, 



There are two hundred approved kinds, more or less; 

 nearly all have their champions. But all practical fruit- 

 growers have about come to the conclusion that if all were de- 

 stroyed, except the old-fashioned Wilson's Albany, no one would 

 be the loser. We do not concur in so sweeping a verdict on all 

 new kinds, but for Louisiana a person will not go far out of the 

 way if he adopt the Wilson until he is satisfied that he has some- 

 thing better. 



