AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
Q75 
ture from my instructions, and I hope thatr.o one 
who has not adhered to them strictly, will ven¬ 
ture an unfavorable report.” 
So much for one side of this subject. If Mr. 
Matthews expects to reap any reward or honor 
for his discoveries, he should take more active 
and efficient measures to have its merits imme¬ 
diately proved to the satisfaction of the commu¬ 
nity, and also to bring it into general use on some 
terms. It is no satisfaction to the large multi¬ 
tude of persons who are annually losing their 
fruit, to be told that a few persons have a secret 
remedy for the loss. The continued air of mys¬ 
tery thrown around this whole matter is rapidly 
dispelling not only public interest, but also the 
faintest hopes that there is any thing to be look¬ 
ed for in this direction. A few years’ more delay, 
and there will be no plum trees left for Mr. Mat¬ 
thews to operate upon. 
Small Fruits—Humber of Plants and Cost 
per Acre. 
(Prepared for the American Agriculturist by an experienced 
Cultivator.) 
The question is often asked “which of the 
smaller fruits is the most profitable ; what will 
it cost to plant an acre; how soon will they 
bear ; how long will they last ? ” etc. Of course, 
it is impossible to answer these correctly for 
each individual, as the price of the plants varies 
in different localities ; the character of the soil 
is widely different; circumstances of climate will 
affect the yield, and the value of the crop will be 
increased or diminished as the locality is near or 
remote from a large market. We say nothing 
about the cost of preparing the ground, manuring, 
etc., as each one can calculate that for himself. 
But it is essential that the land be in good 
heart —rich even—and that it be well and deep¬ 
ly plowed, subsoiled if possible ; and unless there 
is a natural drainage, artificial should be resorted 
to. As it is impossible to fully remedy any de¬ 
fects in preparing the soil, after the planting is 
done, it is of the first importance, to properly 
attend to it while the ground is clear. 
Whatever particular variety of fruit is chosen, 
let the plants be strong and healthy, and expose 
the roots to as little sun and air as possible 
while transporting or transplanting. In some 
localities a neighbor will have a surplus of 
plants, and they can be obtained at less than 
the prices affixed. At other places the cost 
may be more than we estimate. Our figures 
are based upon the advertised prices of first 
class, eastern nurserymen, and the calculation is 
for one acre of each. Beginning with the earliest 
variety, and taking them as they successively 
come into bearing, we have first the 
Strawberry —which may be planted in Au¬ 
gust or September, or even in October, and also 
in April or May. Set in Autumn, something like 
half a crop may be looked for the next season, 
and a full crop the following year. When planted 
in Spring, which is usually the best time, every¬ 
thing considered, there will be no fruit the first 
year, but nearly a full crop the second season. 
Taking the strong growing Wilson’s Albany, 
for example—which should be cultivated in hills 
18 inches distant each way—and turning to the 
table on page 36 of the February Agriculturist , 
we find 19,360 plants are required for an acre, 
at the cost o-f about $194, calling them $10 
per 1000. Arrived at a good bearing state, 
every three plants should produce a quart (two 
plants will frequently do it), or 6,453 quarts per 
acre. Ten cents per quart is a low price for 
such fine berries the season through, which 
gives $645 for one year’s yield. When the 
ground is properly prepared at first, and occa¬ 
sionally top dressed with fine manure afterwards, 
they will continue in profitable bearing five or 
six years. [This is a large showing, and al¬ 
though this yield may often be greatly exceeded, 
it is better to estimate at less than these figures 
as a general rule. Most of the established va¬ 
rieties can be obtained at $10 per 1000, and 
many of them less, but some are yet held at 
higher rates. Ed.] Additional plants are ob¬ 
tained from the runners, which push out freely 
and take root in July and August; these may 
be transplanted in Fall or Spring. 
Raspberries require more room. Most per¬ 
sons prefer to plant in hills 4 feet apart each 
way, putting two or three canes in a hill. Others 
set in hills 4 feet apart, putting single canes 2 
feet distant in the row, two of which are tied to 
one stake, placed midway between them. In the 
former way they can be worked out with a horse 
in two directions, but if only two feet distant in 
the row, they can only be plowed and cultivated 
one way. This plan was illustrated on page 182, 
vol. 17. About the same number of plants will 
be required in either case—setting but two in 
each hill when 4 feet apart—or say 5,400 canes, 
at a cost of about $3 per 100, or $162 for an acre. 
A little fruit* will be borne the first year, about 
the same the second, and a full yield, or say 
3500 quarts, the third year, and rather increasing 
afterwards. At ten cents per quart the gross re¬ 
ceipts for one acre will be $350. With plenty of 
manure and good tillage, they continue to yield 
profitable crops for many years. The writer of 
this has a plot of raspberries, a portion of which 
was planted 10 years ago, and this is quite as 
productive, as the later planted portions. As most 
of the well tried sorts require Winter protection, 
it is better to plant in the Spring. The numerous 
suckers or new shoots annually thrown up, may 
be used in planting new grounds. 
Currants. When planted 4 feet apart each 
way, to be worked out with a horse in both di¬ 
rections, 2,722 bushes are required to the acre. 
The well established red Dutch variety can now 
be had for $5 per 100, or $136 for the amount re¬ 
quired on an acre. Early Spring is the best time 
to set out, and the plants should be trained in 
tree form, with a short, single stem, rather than 
as bushes with innumerable suckers. No returns 
should be looked for before the second year, and 
only half a crop then. After this a full yield may 
be expected, rather increasing for a year or two 
longer. They will usually need renewing after 
having produced about six full crops, although 
when properly pruned and tended, they some¬ 
times bear profitably for 8 to 10 years. To in¬ 
crease the stock, put out cuttings in the Spring 
rather than try to divide the old roots. To pre¬ 
vent a tendency to throw up suckers, cut out the 
buds below ground, and for a few inches above. 
Calling the yield one pound per plant, we have 
on an acre 2,722 lbs, worth $190 at 7 c. per 16. 
Blackberries. These require more room. 
They may be planted in Spring or Autumn, put¬ 
ting canes in rows 8 feet apart, and 4 feet in the 
row, to be trained upon a wire trellis. This will 
require 1,360 plants per acre—costing about $110, 
at $8 per 100. The land can be cultivated with 
a plow between the-rows, and even cropped with 
something for the first year or two. Blackberries 
bear, say half a crop the second year from plant¬ 
ing, and a full crop the third year. Each well 
established plant of the New-Ilochelle variety, 
with such ample space, is good for two quarts of 
berries, at least, which is $326 per acre, even at 
12 c. per quart. L'ke the raspberry they throw 
up abundance of suckers for further planting oi 
for sale. The sale of plants has heretofore been 
so profitable, that cultivators have bestowed more 
care upon the new canes, than upon the crop of 
fruit. Properly manured and well cultivated they 
will yield profitable crops for many years. 
Grapes. Almost every vine grower has his 
own method of cultivation, and without entering 
into the various theories, we will merely state 
our belief, that large planters cut their vines too 
closely, giving the root an undue preponderance 
over the branches. In some of the European 
grape growing districts there are vineyards in 
good bearing condition, which are reported to 
have been planted 100 years. The oldest plan¬ 
tations in this country have only been set some 
25 years, and are already showing sings of failure 
in some localities, while many of us can point to 
individual vines ofgreat age, like the one alluded 
to on page 81 of the March Agriculturist, extend¬ 
ing over a building or trellis, almost at random, 
and bearing from 50 lbs to 100 lbs each year. 
Of course, there are extremes, but in field culture 
we would plant in rows 9 feet apart, and set the 
vines 10 feet distant in the row, to be trained 
upon wire or slat board trellises, and worked 
with a horse in one direction. This will take 484 
plants per acre, and if of the well proved and 
standard Isabella or Catawba varieties, can be 
had, in quantity, for about $20 per 100, or $97 
for the required number. But little fruit should 
be allowed to mature before the third year, and 
a full crop the fourth season. Twelve lbs per 
vine is about enough to ripen, or say 5,800 lbs. 
per acre. At 10 cents a lb. the crop is worth 
$580. As remarked above, they may reasonably 
be expected to bear good crops under proper 
treatment many years. 
The stock is increased by cuttings taken off in 
Fall and Winter, and put in in the Spring, or by 
layering the new growth in July and August. 
Mammoth Gooseberries—Show at Pater¬ 
son, K J. 
Anybody who can conveniently call at the of¬ 
fice of the Agriculturist will be treated to the sight 
of some two dozen Gooseberries which, for size, 
we will place against any that can be shown in 
the country. The smallest one measures 4 inch¬ 
es around at its least diameter. We have them 
preserved in diluted alcohol. They were receiv¬ 
ed July 19th from Thomas Graves, of Paterson, 
N. J., who gave some account of their culture in 
our July issue, p. 218. He says the jar full sent 
us was too small to weigh at their show. Mr. 
Graves sent, too late for the August issue, an ac¬ 
count of the Gooseberry show at Paterson, July 
18th, from which we extract the following: 
Our show of Gooseberries was good this year, 
but the fruit was not so large as we expected by 
4 pennyweights on the average, owing to the very 
hot weather followed by the heavy rain on Satur¬ 
day, the 16th. Hot sun injures Gooseberries, 
shrinking them, and they require protection. Rain 
following hot weather causes them to burst. We 
find that cow manure produces more or less mil¬ 
dew. 
At our show we first weigh for the “ maiden 
prize,” that is for those who have not won a prize 
at any other show. Those competing for this have 
two chances with the same berry. The premi¬ 
ums given are rather novel. The first a maiden 
prize, is a Teapot. The second or head prize is a 
brass-kettle. The third,fourth,fifth and sixth prizes 
are each a Teapot. The rest of the prizes are 
given in money. The following is the list of ber¬ 
ries weighed at this year’s show. [The weight 
