ALLEN'S BOOK OF BERRIES— 1924 



Will Strawberry Growing Pay? 



No crop that we know of has yielded profits equalling in amount and regularity 

 the profits from growing strawberries. Every year for many years growers with good 

 berries in almost all sections have been able to obtain fair prices. $500, $1000, and even 

 $2000 per acre have not been unusual. The extra high prices of the years just follow- 

 ing the war will probably not be realized again soon in most sections. Strawberries 

 held to the super-prices much longer than any crop we know of, and when they fell 

 they still remained at profitable levels. 



An Honest Opinion 



Based on our 40 years of experience and observation of the strawberry business, 

 our belief is that the growing of fancy strawberries will pay the average gardener and 

 farmer with a moderate or small acreage, more money per acre and more money per 

 hour of labor than any other crop he can grow. Select good land, prepare it properly, 

 get the proper varieties, good plants, and care for them, and the rewards will be liberal. 

 The amount of your profits will depend on cost of production and the price. 



The cost of production per quart of berries can be reduced by selecting high yield- 

 ing varieties (see page 16), by getting plants that will grow and thus avoid blank spaces 

 in your patch (see page 11, Strawberry Plant Insurance). Our business is to sell plants, 

 but we advise you honestly to grow one acre and take care of them, rather than two 

 acres and neglect them. 



The price will depend very largely on quality, including size, appearance, condi- 

 tion, and flavor. Again we see the importance of getting plants of the proper variety 

 and knowing they are true-to-name (see page 12). It is also easier to get help to pick 

 fancy berries. Other reasons why we believe in growing strawberries follow. 



Strawberry Markets 



As for the demand, it is tremendous and growing larger all the time, by the natural 

 increase in population and by better methods of distribution both for fresh fruit and 

 for preserved products. 



One reason for the tremendous demand for strawberries is that it is the earliest 

 fruit grown. It comes at a time when folks are tiring of living out of tin cans and storage 

 houses, and long for something fresh from the garden or field. This is one of the big 

 reasons, we believe, why strawberries pay well even in a year of general low prices. 



The unusual markets, hotels and restaurants, grocery and family trades, home 

 canning and preserving always consume a tremendous quantity of strawberries, es- 

 pecially if the quality is good. Many people are learning that good fruit is a promoter 

 of good health, and are demanding it one, two, often three times a day. Strawberries 

 come when no other fresh fruit can be had. 



Commercial canning and preserving is consuming an increasingly large quan- 

 tity of fruit. And with sugar at a moderate price there seems to be no reason why this 

 demand should not continue growing. We sell many thousands of quarts for this pur- 

 pose each year. The beauty of this business is that small, overripe and sandy berries 

 can be used for this trade, and thus keep the poorest fruit off the market. Fancy fruit 

 never gluts a market. 



Fruit Juices are increasing in demand at soda fountains, the strawberry flavor 

 being a favorite with many. This is another outlet for inferior fruit, allowing only the 

 best to go on regular markets. 



Ice Cream Factories are using strawberries more and more in their business. 

 All of these needs must be supplied, and we believe at least a fair profit is sure for 

 those who supply them. 



Who Should Grow Strawberries ? 



1. Market Gardeners. A man who has a few acres of good land near cities or 

 large towns has the sure-thing of the strawberry business. Many thousands of our 

 customers have just this situation. A local market is developed, sometimes retail 



