100 Eichard Frotscher^s Almanac and Garden Manual 



and made lick with well rotted compost, or whereon a crop of 

 cow peas have been grown and turned Uf-der, would meet all re- 

 quirements. Oq a piece of soil prepared in this way, and the 

 plants thereon well cultivated and cared for, the true value of a 

 new variety could be determined for that particular locality in 

 one, or at least two seasons. It is hard for a progressive fruit 

 grower to resist a brilliant description of a new kind of fruit, 

 which, if it succeeds, wiil make him a fortune; but it is well to 

 temper enthuvsiasm with prudence. Small fruit growing has 

 made great strides since the time we made our first venture in 

 the strawberry patch. When one quart was sold at that time, a 

 thousand now find a ready sale. Dr. Hexamer, in liis address 

 before the Xew Jersey State Horticultural Society, spoke as fol- 

 lows in reference to the t:ukure of the strawberry : 



" Statistics show that the value of strawberries sold annually in 

 o«r large cities amounts to many millions of dollars, but the 

 priceless value in enjoyment, in good cheer and health to the 

 millions who grow and pick and eat their own berries, is incal- 

 culable. With the planting of every strawberry bed on a farm 

 where there was none before, the coruer stone is laid for a happy 

 home, for every plant we entruist to the soil bears in it the germs 

 for happiness and health. Would we know where the strawber- 

 ries grow, let us drive along the country road to yonder cozy cot- 

 tage, where the rosy cheeks and bright eyes, the happy faces and 

 cheerful expression of the children playing under the rose-cover- 

 ed veranda tell plainer than words can tell that the strawberry 

 bed is not far away. 



But progress in strawberry and other fruit culture has accom- 

 plished more than invigorated health, increased enjoyment, and 

 made home dearer to our children : it has sharpened observation, 

 brightened thought and inspired the development and stability 

 of the noblest traits of human nature, ^o plainer object-lesson 

 was ever taught, no more impressive sermon preached than that 

 which nature instilled in every root, in every leaf, in every ex- 

 panding bud and every fading fl.ower which must wither that the 

 more perfect fruit may spring into life. 



There is a class of people who do not believe in progress, who 

 think the world had reached perfection when they were young, 

 and that it has moved backward since. But who could, fifty years 

 ago, have imagined the wonderful progress of the present day, 

 and who can conceive what progressive idejis, progressive minds 

 and progressive men will accomplish in another half century? 

 We may, at times, go too fast, and make missteps, or we may put 

 on too much steam and burst a boiler, but what of that ? What 

 does the brave soldier care if he must lose his life that his brothers 

 may march to victory '?" 



In concluding this somewhat lengthy article on the Culture of 

 Strawberries in the Gulf States, we claim the indulgence of 

 friends who know, and we trust appreciate, our enthusiasm in the 

 cause of horticulture in all its branches. We believe that for- 

 tune and happiness may be tound in its exercise, and that more 

 gold will be made in the culture of small fruits in the South than 

 in the mines of New Mexico or California. 



