6i4 
HOW I BECAME A BERRY GROWER. 
BUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP. 
At the request o* The R N.-Y. to de¬ 
scribe “ How I started in the business of 
fruit growing 1 ; what varieties I had to 
start with ; how I found what was to be 
profitable ; what special department I 
decided to develop and why,” I give a 
few details. 
I write more especially for the con¬ 
sideration of the “ country boy ” readers 
of The R N.-Y., hoping what I say may 
impress on their minds the fact that 
capital to start with is not always a 
necessity, and that they certainly need 
not leave their bright, free, country 
homes, kindred and friends, as the only 
way to secure a business of their own by 
which they may eventually earn a home 
of their own. 
My first attempt at horticulture was 
only 10 years ago when, at the age of 14, 
I became very much interested in a small 
plot of ground—about an eighth of an 
acre—which my father offered me for a 
garden and truck patch, in which I 
might raise vegetables for our nearest 
market. Having purchased a Planet Jr. 
wheel hoe with about the first proceeds, 
I continued with increasing interest for 
three years, cultivating the garden when 
not helping with our farm work. 
He Gets Into Greggs. 
About this time I bought 75 Gregg rasp 
berry plants just as an experiment. They 
proved to be wonderful growers and 
bore a good crop of the largest berries I 
had ever seen, when one year old. I sold 
all we did not use at home for a good 
price, but did not keep account of the 
quantity sold. The second year I cleared 
$15 from the 75 plants, besides having all 
we wanted for home use. This decided 
me at once in favor of small fruit grow¬ 
ing as my future business, not because 
of the profit alone, but because of the 
desirable combination of profit, interest, 
pleasure, enthusiasm, and, I ventured to 
hope, success. 
I then began propagating Greggs by 
the thousand, by burying the tips of the 
canes in deep, loamy soil prepared by 
digging or plowing a narrow strip be¬ 
tween the rows to a depth of three or 
four inches. My father kindly set apart 
about five acres of good fertile land lying 
in the shape of a half basin, the slope of 
which, beginning with an eastern in¬ 
clination, curves around and ends with a 
northern exposure. The land lying in 
the bottom and partially surrounded by 
this elevation is nearly level, so that I 
have almost every desirable location that 
I could wish, on a limited scale. This 
land proved especially suited to growing 
raspberries, as the soil was deep, loamy 
and moist. On the eastern exposure 
where the land was a warm, sandy loam, 
my Greggs were nearly one week earlier 
than those situated on the northern 
slope, while those on the latter con¬ 
tinued to bear good pickings of fine, large 
berries several days after all others were 
done. 
Strawberries Come to Stay. 
Strawberries also proved to be at home 
here ; in fact, beautiful wild strawber¬ 
ries, both red and white, grow in profu¬ 
sion in almost every fence row. Cur¬ 
rants, gooseberries, blackberries and 
grapes are proving to do equally well. 
My raspberries have always sold well at 
our home market, the supply never ex¬ 
ceeding the demand, which is increasing 
each year. By careful picking, attrac¬ 
tive packing and, I hope, intelligent, re¬ 
spectful and square dealing with the pur¬ 
chasers of my small fruits, a trade has 
been established which would be rather 
hard for competitors to wipe out even by 
underselling. Good fruit attractively 
put up will force its own way and do its 
own talking. 
As to varieties of raspberries, the Gr?gg 
is, to use the popular slang, “ out of 
6ight ” here, there being no variety yet 
produced that can take its place as a gen¬ 
eral crop for canning. I am aware that 
in some soils and locations it has not 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
given satisfaction, as it will not endure 
as much cold as some varieties. But on 
our soil, with a natural protection formed 
by a lofty ridge on the west and north¬ 
west, I have never sustained any loss by 
the winter-killing of the canes. By good 
care and proper management of them, 
the berries are simply superb. Customers 
who at first bought only a few quarts “to 
try,” now give their orders for one, two, 
or three bushels for canning. This is the 
“ special department ” and the “ why ” I 
developed it, although I have a growing 
love for the strawberry, and have mar¬ 
keted this season 100 bushels of beauti¬ 
ful berries from a little patch of about 
three-fourths of an acre. As to varieties 
of strawberries, I shall continue to grow 
not more than four, my present favorites 
being Warfield, Cumberland, Ontario and 
Gandy. 
Advantages of Few Varieties. 
It will be observed that but few vari- 
titS of small fruits are grown. It has 
been my experience that a few varieties 
which have shown themselves especially 
suited to the conditions afforded by the 
nature of the soil and location, are more 
profitable than a great many varieties, 
when growing for market is the sole 
object. By having the number of varie¬ 
ties limited to a very few, a much more 
uniform grade of fruit can be offered, 
and if these few are among the best, the 
purchasers show their appreciation by 
buying year after year, without any 
hesitation, even engaging one year ahead 
in some instances. However, it is well 
to test in a small way some of the more 
promising of the new varieties, so that 
we may, if they should prove superior to 
our old favorities, be ready to substitute 
the new for the old. 
In conclusion, I have, in addition to my 
small fruits a few trees of every kind of 
fruit, growing here and there, some in 
small blocks by themselves, others filling 
up some nook that would otherwise be 
idle, but all promising ustful and fruit¬ 
ful lives, And although I cannot boast 
of a fortune made by small fruit grow¬ 
ing (as some do who invested their 
capital of several hundreds or thousands 
in the enterprise) I can truly say I have 
at the age of 24 a new, neat and sub¬ 
stantial home well improved, built from 
the ground up with the profits of my 
small fruits alone. I bad no capital to 
start with, but the chance to work. As 
to who makes the greater success, he 
who makes a fortune by the investment 
and aid of his capital, or he who makes 
a success with no capital to start with, 
I leave for the readers of The Rural to 
determine in their own minds. 
Ohio. F. H. BALLOU. 
STRAWS ABOUT STRAW. 
On many farms, notably in the grain¬ 
growing regions of the West, straw is 
considered simply a waste product, to be 
got rid of in the easiest manner possible. 
But a comparatively small proportion of 
it is put to any practical use besides 
bedding for stock. At the best it is but 
a by-product, and its storage and care 
are secondary considerations. Near the 
cities and larger towns it becomes a 
marketable commodity, and the ex¬ 
change of straw for the manure made 
is a village custom, in many places more 
profitable to the villager than to the 
farmer. In this city straw is a regular 
market commodity, listed on tie Pro¬ 
duce Exchange the same as hay, graded 
and subject to the same rules of inspec¬ 
tion as the latter. The prices at which 
it sells render it an object to save it in 
the best possible condition, for only so 
is it valuable. 
There are not so many different grades 
of straw as of hay, but all straw to sell 
for quoted prices must be in good condi¬ 
tion. The best rye straw usually sells 
for about the price of the lower grades 
of hay. There are two grades of this 
straw, according to the classification of 
the Produce Exchange. Some straw 
may occasionally be brought in loose 
from nearby points, but practically all 
of the receipts are baled. The question 
has been asked The R. N.-Y. as to the 
proper manner of thrashing rye straw. 
The manner of thrashing is of less im¬ 
port; nee than the condition of the pro¬ 
duct. If it can be put in better condi¬ 
tion when thrashed by hand, that is the 
better way. But probably the straw¬ 
saving thrashers now in use, if care be 
taken, will serve to deliver the straw in 
as good order as need be. 
The requirements for No. 1 rye straw 
are that it shall be clean, bright, long, 
sound, pressed in bundles, well and se¬ 
curely baled. It takes pretty good 
straw, put up in pretty good order, to 
fill all those requirements. The bales 
of straw are usually larger than those 
of hay, and few, if any, of those I have 
observed, are baled with the perpetual 
presses. Many of them have wood in 
the bales. A bale of straw must be 
larger, of course, than one of hay of 
equal weight. Straw is not exported, 
at least not to any extent, hence close 
pressing is not requ’red. 
No. 2 rye straw must possess the same 
requirements as No. 1, except that it is 
not pressed in bundles. Probably straw 
not possessing all these qualifications 
will sell, but it is not recognized by the 
Exchange, and has no grade to stand on. 
It would sell according to the exigencies 
and requirements of the markets. Both 
these grades should be free from chaff. 
This straw is used largely by horsemen 
for bedding, by florists and nurserymen 
for packing flowers, plants and trees, 
and, to a less extent, for other purposes. 
The Exchange has given us but one 
grade of oat straw, and all not filling the 
requirements laid down for this grade 
would have to be sold on its merits 
These requirements are that it shall be 
clean, bright, sound, well and securely 
baled. It is possible to bale this more 
tightly than rye straw, but the bales 
usually seen vary little from the others 
in size. “ Clean ” means that it must be 
free from thistles, weeds and chaff. It is 
used largely for packing purposes, for 
such goods as crockery, glassware, etc., 
and thistles are not to be tolerated. Lit¬ 
tle straw is fed in the city.. “Bright” 
means that it must be cut before dead 
ripe, and “ sound” that it is to be well 
cured without rotting or bleaching, or 
too long exposure to the weather. In hay, 
there is a “ no grade or rejected hay,” 
but no such asylum is provided for in¬ 
ferior straw, although it would seem 
that there should be, as such would sell 
for some price if falling below the re¬ 
quirements for the grades given. 
Wheat straw is not graded, but differs 
but little from oat in the conditions to be 
met. It is used for much the same pur¬ 
poses, and usually sells for about the 
same price. The market reports gener¬ 
ally quote short rye straw in addition to 
No. 1 and No. 2. This is such as is not. 
long enough to be classed in either of 
the other grades, but otherwise must fill 
the requirements for them. f. h. v. 
It is so easy to Contract a Cold, which 
from its obstinacy, may entail a long siege of dis¬ 
comfort, before getting rid of it. that the afflicted 
should resort at once to that old-established rejuedy 
Dr. D. Jayne’s Expectorant, which will speedily 
remove all Coughs and Colds, and help you to avoid 
all complications Involving the Throat and Lungs.— 
—Adv. 
Beware of Imitations. 
NOTICE 
AUTOGRAPH 
ON 
Label 
AND GET 
THE CENUINE 
HARTSHORN^ 
Use DR. CHILES’ 
HOOF OINTMENT, 
THE ONLY CURE FOR 
Thrush. Canker, Contracted Feet, Quarter Crack, 
Scratches, Cuts, Galls and Old Wounds of long 
standing. It never fails. 
.Price, 50 cents. 
Dr. J. W. CHILES, Dixon,*!!!. 
September 9 
Waltham and Elgin Watches. 
At greatly reduced prices for Rural New- 
Yorker subscribers only. 
Those who have received Waltham or 
Elgin watches from The Rural New- 
Yorker have been perfectly satisfied. 
The arrangement under which they are 
purchased is in the interest of our sub¬ 
scribers. The usual big profits are alto¬ 
gether eliminated. These offers are open 
only to Rural subscribers. 
If your subscription is already paid in 
advance and you want a watch, your 
41 
time may be extended or new subscrip¬ 
tions secured; or the watch alone may 
be bought by subscribers only at the 
prices named. 
* * * All are sent prepaid and insured, 
by registered mail. 
Every watch is guaranteed to be an 
accurate timekeeper. Money refunded if 
watch is not satisfactory and is returned 
within three days after receipt. Please 
write your opinion of the watches re¬ 
ceived. 
Offer No. 164.—Waltham or Elgin, men’s size, with 
seven Jewels, compensation balance and safety 
pinion, stem winding and setting apparatus and all 
the latest Improveaoents. The case Is solid nickel 
silver, open face, and the crystal is made of heavy 
plate-glass. The usual price of this watch Is $8.60 to 
$12.50. We send It to subscribers by registered mall 
for $5.50; with three new subscriptions. $8. 
Offer No. 168.—A Waltham or Elgin 15-Jeweled 
watch, containing all the great patents, such as com¬ 
pensation balance, safety pinion, Btem winding and 
pendant setting apparatus. Breguet hair spring 
hardened and tempered In form, patent regulator, 
etc., fitted Into a heavy nickel silver case, open face, 
like that mentioned In offer No. 164. The works alone 
In this watch usually sell at from $12 to $15. We send 
it by mall to any subscriber for $10; with three new 
subscriptions $12. 
Offer No 169.—This Is a 16-year guarantee gold- 
filled watch case, containing a 15-jeweled movement 
and all Improvements mentioned under Offer No. 167. 
The case Is beautifully engraved and la made by 
placing two plates of solid gold over a plate of fine 
composition metal. This Is an open-face watch, and 
we cannot recommend It too highly. Sent to any 
subscriber by registered mail for only $15.65; with a 
club of five new subscriptions $19.25. 
Offer No-170.—Same watch as No. 169, but hunting 
case. Sent by registered matl to any subscriber for 
$18.50; with three new subscriptions $21. 
No. 4. C.—For those who want the best and are will¬ 
ing to trust our judgment, we have selected a watch 
which combines richness with perfect finish. It can¬ 
not be surpassed as a timekeeper. It Is lull Jeweled, 
the jewels being set In solid gold. It has the finest 
and simplest patent regulator known, as well as a 
patent safety pinion, compensation balance and 
Logan's celebrated Breguet halr-sprlng, which Is 
bent to the required form and then hardened and 
tempered. It Is thoroughly adjusted so that It will 
keep accurate time whether hot or cold. It Is made 
by the American Waltham Watch Company, and 
called “ P. 8. Bartlett.” Hundreds of people have 
paid as high as $125 for this watch, and the usual re¬ 
tail price Is now from $85 to $105. We offer It In a 14k 
gold, two ounces to 2ounces (40 to 45 dwt.) case, 
bunting or open face, handsomely finished. Price, 
$43.50 ; with a five years’ subscription, or five new 
subscriptions, $47.50. 
People who want this magnificent watch In a 
cheaper case can have it In gold-filled case, guaran¬ 
teed for 15 years, for $22 In hunting case, and for 
$19.50 In open face ; for $19.50 in three ounce coin 
silver, hunting or open face ; for $12.75 in nickel 
silver, open-face case ; a year’s subscription In¬ 
cluded with each one. 
No. 15.—A beautiful 11-jewel movement, full nickel, 
in a handsomely engraved hunting case made of 14k 
U. 8. Assay solid gold, usual retail price from $50 to 
$75. One of the prettiest watches for a lady that we 
have ever seen. Price $25 net; with five new sub¬ 
scriptions, $28.50 
THE RURAL PUBLISHING CO., 
Cor. Chambers and Pearl Sts., New York. 
