For Peak Performance 



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 

 mechanical 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 these will produce more and 

 better berries than the late runner plants. A bed 

 18 to 24 inches wide with the plants spaced 6 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 should be kept as cool as possible and not 

 be permitted to stand in the sun any longer than 

 is absolutely necessary. 



6. Careful grading will also aid greatly in main- 

 taining high 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 will detract twice as much 

 from the selling price as new containers would 

 have cost. 



3. Have your baskets well filled. Everyone likes 

 good measure, give it to them, it PAYS. 



Better Marketing Means Bigger Profits 



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 : in this way you save the trans- 

 portation costs and the middleman's profit 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 j-ou are located close to a well traveled high- 

 way, a roadside stand should solve your marketing 

 problem nicely as you will be able to dispose of 

 your berries and some other products at good 

 prices and eliminate the trouble and expense 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 ef- 

 fort you have spent in building up a reputation as 

 a grower of quality berries will quickly be lost. 



When shipping to the wholesale markets grading 

 is just as important as when 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 the returns from fancy berries and 

 just ordinary ones. There is always enough spread 

 on wholesale markets so that by commanding top 

 quotations your berries will show a nice margin of 

 l)rofit. 



