The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-07-17
The Berry Trade.

The fruit trade of Ottawa for few weeks has
assumed such proportions a. to attract more than
usual attention, whence we have been led to in.
stitute inquiries on the subject with view TO
ascertain its approximate magnitude, its profit
ableness and the practicsbility of its extension.
The soil and climate of this vicinity, experience
has demonstrated, are as well adapted to the cul.
tivation of the strawberry, raspberry, cherry and
currant as any in the country. There is, there
fore, virtually no limit to the amount Of these
fruits that can be raised in La Sale county. il
there is an available market for them. Now ON
thispoint the operations this season have brought
to light very important fact. and that is, that
in the fruits named, Chicago affords a market
which, were all La Sale county engaged in the
business it could not gut, and that in their sea-
son, La Sale county in that market is virtually
1sttom competition. The berries from this conn.
ty reach Chicago just ss the supply from the
south fails and our season nearly closes when
the arrival of berries from Michigan, Northern
Illinois and Wisconsin begins.
Thus while in Ottawa we were feastine ON
strawberries at 10912 cts. q quart, shippers had
no trouble in realizing 1920 cts for them in
Chicago. The same is found true Of raspberries.
They sell now slowly in Ottawa for 10 to 10 cts.,
but go fast in Chicago at $4,000. They can be
picked and boxed in the evening, put upon the
train at six in the morning. and arrive at Chica.
90 at 10 o'clock, just as the sale there is fairly
commenced, and are as fresh as in tho Ottawa
market Exactly the same is true of strswber.
ries, currants and cherries, The last named
fruit is now dull in Ottawa at $1.5O bushel,
while they 60 fast in Chicago for $3.5O9$4OO.
Strawberries in this vicinity yield with little
extra care from IS to 14O bushels 70 the acre.
The only variety 6t!for market, and therefore tho
only one largely cultivated, is Wilson's Albany.
OF raspberres, Doolittle's improved black cap is
the favorite, and yields from 40 to 50 bushels to
the acre. Mr.. Brush has also IN acre or two of
new variety Of red raspberry, of which we fer.
get the name, which he says is perfectly hardy,
and in which he has great confidence. In cher
ries, the early Richmond is sure and prolific
bearer, although the cherry now in market is the
morello, of which trees abound everywhere, and
which are unusually loaded this year. Currants,
though greatly liable to injury by the worm.
need little care in raising aud yield an abundant
crop.
With these facts staring US in the face, then,
what more profitable business can our farmers
around Ottawa engage in than raising berries !?
Say man has five acres of strawberries, yield
ing 500 bushels, worth at least 81, 800; 10 acres
raspberries yielding the same and worth about
the same-s2 500 more with currants, cherries,
asparagus, pie plant, &C., to fill in, enough to
cover expenses, and what better business can q
man wish on 30 or 40 acres of ground?
AIr. Brush, to whom we are chiefly indebted
for our facts in the above, promises US some closer
figures at the end of the season. but meantime
advises all who have the ground and taste for
the berry business to ''go in. There is no danger
of OVERRIDING the business with Chicago at our
door,"