Rayner's Plants that Please Plus Good Cultivation, Resulted In A Beautiful 

 Field and A Large Profit Crop For This Pennsylvania Grower. 



For Peak Performance ^'"" **"''**'"' ^*99'' ^"*"' 



To realize the maximum of pleasure and profit 

 from your berries, there are some points that must 

 be considered beyond the actual production of the 

 fruit. 



1. Plant only such varieties as produce firm, at- 

 tractive fruit of high dessert quality, which are 

 adapted to your locality and market. 



2. Set your berries on good, rich soil, that is well 

 drained, retentive of moisture and in good mech- 

 anical condition. Plants that are well fed will 

 produce larger berries. 



3. Take special care that the plants do not be- 

 come too crowded in the row. Encourage the early 

 runners to root as tliese will produce more and bet- 

 ter berries than the late runner plants. A bed 18 

 to 24 inches wide with the plants spaced C to 9 

 inches apart in the bed is ideal for heavy produc- 

 tion of high quality fruit. Fruit will be more firm 

 and there will be less decay in wet weather, as a 

 result of the improved -ventilation. 



4. Keep the berries closely picked so that they 

 do not become too over-ripe and in so doing lose 

 their quality and appearance. 



5. Care in picking and handling will aid greatly 

 in retaining the high quality of the fruit. This 

 should receive special attention when the berries 

 are to be shipped long distances or are to be kept 

 for two or three days. Berries that are bruised 

 and crushed will often mold quickly while fruit 

 handled carefully will keep in good condition. The 

 berries sliould be kept as cool as possible and not 

 be permitted to stand in the sun any longer than 

 IS absolutely necessary. 



0. Careful grading will also aid greatly in main- 

 taining higli quality. All decayed and imperfect 

 fruit should be discarded and any undersized ber- 

 ries packed separately. 



7. Mulching will aid greatly in keeping the ber- 

 ries clean during a rain and also keep the ground 

 cool and moist. This practice is a great aid in 

 producing high quality fruit. 



8. Always use new or clean packages, these 

 greatly enhance the appearance of the fruit and 

 make selling much easier. Dark, dirty crates and 

 baskets should never be used. Quite often dark, 

 unattractive packages wil detract twice as much 

 rrom the selling price as new containers would have 

 cost. 



9. Have your baskets well filled. Everyone likes 

 good measure, give it to them, it PAYS. 



Marketing— This should receive very careful con- 

 sideration as it is one of the major items in rela- 

 tion to your profit. Of course every grower must 

 work out his marketing method to meet his or her 

 particular requirements, however, the method used 

 should be the one that will realize the very best 

 price for the crop. Should you have a nearby mar- 

 ket and your acreage is not too large, by all means 

 retail your berries; ip this way you save the trans- 

 portation costs and the middleman's r>r<)fit goes 

 into your own pocket. These are two large items 

 and should not be expended unless no other course 

 is available. Of course, with a large acreage or 

 when markets are at considerable distance the 

 large wholesale markets must be used. 



If you are located close to a well traveled high- 

 way, a roadside stand should solve your marketing 

 prol)lem nicely as you will be able to dispose of 

 your berries and some other produce at good 

 prices and eliminate the trouble and exi)ense of 

 hauling to some nearby city or tOAvn. Then there 

 are grocery stores, hotels, and your own private 

 customers, any or all of these may fit into your 

 marketing program. Whatever method you decide 

 on bear in mind that It Pays To Advertise. Grade 

 your berries carefully. Give full measure, grow va- 

 rieties that are sweet and good and above all let 

 people know you have them. But do not fall down 

 on your grading no matter how many orders you 

 have to turn down. If you do, all the time and 

 effort you have si)ent in building up a reputation 

 as a grower of quality berries will quickly be lost. 



When shipping to tlie wholesale markets grading 

 is just as im))()rtant as wlien selling locally. The 

 transportation costs are the same, crates and pick- 

 ing the same, whether the berries are of the very 

 best quality or are poor, but there will be a great 

 difference in tlie returns from fancy berries and 

 just ordinary ones. There is always enough si)read 

 on Avholesale markets so that by commanding top 

 quotations your berries will show a nice margin 

 of profit. 







Susquehanna County 

 May 5, 



Pa. 



VXV.) 



I have set berry plants for fifteen years, and 

 would like to tell you that these plants were 

 the best I ever saw, and were packed and sent 

 in the best condition. I don't think I have lost 

 but one plant. 



Yours, L. A. Pierson 



19 



