The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-08-06
Strawberry Farming.

IL IS only within q few years that the
cultivation Of the small fruits on large
scale for market has been much pursued
in this country. Now, however, straw
berries, raspberries and cranbcrrios, are
cultivated in plots of many acres in cx-
tent, and ordinarily realizing TO their own
ers great profits compared with the in
vestment in land, labor, etc. At the re-
cent strawberry show at the Office of the
american AgriculturiSt, among the ber-
fies showing tho best cultivation, were
some splendid Triomphe's and Wilson'S
rom hev. Il. M. Pease, of the New York
farm School, near Mt. Vernon, West
chester Co. This farm wo visited, and it
has many points of interest besides the
Strawberries.
Mr.. Pease is widely known for his be.
neficent and successful exertions in behalf
Of poor children Of this City, he having
given tho character to the Five Points
Mission, and House of Industry, which
he may almost be said to have founded.
Seeing need of giving poor children a
means OF earning respectable livelihood,
he some years since purchased this farm
and turned il over TO tho "House of In
duslry," when that body was incorpora-
tod, by which institution it is now leased
TO Board of seven Managers of tho
most prominent benevolent citizens Of
New York, Of whom Mr.. Pease is one.
Tho Farm has been cleared of rocks,
bushes, fences and water-the rocks bur
led and made into drains, the bushes and
fences, except the stone walls, burned, the
water gathered into pools at different lev
els TO servo rs reservoirs for irrigation
This he is preparing to conduct on an OK
tensive scale, and now uses the water with
marked advantage in some extensive
strawberry beds. On this farm, in con
necLion with other ordinary farm crops
corn, potatoes, rye, oats and grass-there
are some five acres of strawberries in
bearing, and several more which will como
into bearing next year. The varieties are
chiefly Wilson's Albany and Triomphe dc
Gand. We estimated the yield at about
800 bushels TO tho acre, and Mr.. Pease
thinks that certain parts will yield at the
rate of 400 bushels of Wilson's Albany.
Tho culture Of these strawberries, ex-
cept tic preliminary preparation of the
ground which is very thorough, is done ell
tiroly by boys, from IL to Is years old,
and wo have never seen strawberry beds
cleaner or more flourishing, and we may
add, we never saw such profusion Of
fruit, of uniform, large, or above medi-
um size. On single plant, 2 years old,
taken at random, VIC counted moro than
200 berries, green and ripe. In general,
they are planted IA inches apart with Is
inches space between the rows. Grass
and other farm crops showed excellent
culture and looked finely. Mr.. Pease
uses an abundance of manure, both from
the stall and compost heap, and besides
purchases fertilizers. He says he cannot
afford to farm without plenty of manure,
and if he can not make all he wants he
must buy it.
The boys are encouraged TO diligence
by certain privileges and payments de-
pending upon their stcadness and efforts.
They each have garden patches TO cult
vato Of their own, according TO their own
tastes. One is trying for the big squash
or pumpkin premium at our proposed
pumpkin show. Others have constructed,
unaided, small greenhouse" where we
found n moist atmosphere and the condi
tions of rapid growth; but it is too
small and will be too much exposed to
bear the winter. 1t would have been bet
ter on the south side of big rock OF
half buried up in the ground. Happier,
pleasanter boys we mover saw. They are
in fair way to make good farmers and
gardeners. Snatched from surroundings
which are the most debasing in this hot
bed of iniquity, (Ncw York City,) they
are saved TO themselves and to society.
The number on the farm will bo increas-
ed as fast rs work can be provided. A
fine now barn has boon built, and other
buildings are in contemplation.-Ameri-
can Agricalturist, A,tgust.