The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-06-21
The strawberry Crop.

ypere daily pIOuSh1 w 'i
was the quantity in excess of the most san
p,,ine anticipations, but the quality OF the
berry has not been surpassed at any time OF
in any part of the continent.
The supply, indeed, was in excess Oh the
arrangements to dispose of it. The nnes
of communication with northern Clues
were not up to the demand, especially IN
their charges for transportation, which were
much too high. This had depressing eject
on the enterprise, and was short-sighted IN
those who charged it. They should ra'neF
encourage every new source OF business LOT
themselves.
The cult;yators should not be discouraged
ON this account. Let them band togethef'
and by cooperation introduce SUCH a sys-
tom and rate of transportation as may open
the way for the more successful ana pro-
titab,c disposal Of their crop. inns can DC
done. There is demand in the northern
cities for every berry that cannot be con-
s,,med in this market. Our producers WIN
have no competitors there, while their crops
Inst for the daily consumption; but even II
their crop should be in excess OF the ae-
mands for the table, the fruit-preserVcrs
will take all that can be delivered at fair
prices.
And why may we not preserve our own
fruit after the prices decline to the point
that justifcs resort to that mode of dis
posing of the crop? In that way we could
save to ourselves much of the profit that is
made by manipulating the fruit of our in
dustry.
But we do not suppose that the price in
the northern cities will ever fall below the
remunerative standard for shipping while
our crop lasts. The Hearth and Home, of
New York, has the following pertinent re-
marks on this point
"In the early part of the season n few straw
berries reach New York from South Carolina and
Georgia hu, as general thing tney 40 n9 W arTye
Strawberries arrive that fruit In good condition
can be found very plentiful in our markets.
number OF northern fruit-growcrs have set
tied near Norfolk, Virginia, and their influ-
encc upon the quality and quantity of fruit from
markets. From other sections OF the State, We
also receive considerable quantities, followed by
those from Delaware ana MARYLAND, ana rs tne
vania aud Southern and Western Jersey send for
ward thousands of crates per day of the very best
ut is these last two localities that bring down
the price, and when their crop is ut Its height
strawberries reach their lowest mark, and the
large fruit-preServing establishments step In and
relieve the market by purchasing, as we have
known Il single house to do, 4 hundred thousand
os ay rEa asa
TO he ovcrstocked with choice fruit. The large
establishments cannot afford to
MO N..tt1, few n
one kind of fruit but when they can purchase
enough at one time to pay them for putting their
whole force upon 1t they will do so; consequently
here may be just enough fruit In the market to
supply the retail trade, and little surplus which
will cause prices to run low, while, If there was
double the quantity, there would be brisk de-
naud. and great improvement In price
Virginia, indeed, has the advantage Of
other States in this great crop, the demand
or which is growing yearly more rapidly
han the production. The choicest fruit
or the table-the most priced of luNuries
or the festal board-it is one Of the greatest
auxiliarics of health, its peculiar acid exert
ing the finest effect on the physical func-
ions, as was intended by the beneticent Pro-
violence which sent it boon just at the
right season for its good influences. And
,rt, combining with nature, has not only
increased the quantity and improved the
quality of this invaluable fruit in the most
manner, but has invented the
mode of preserving it with its exquisite fla
vor and virtues so completely retained that
society may enjoy it the year round.
Considering these causes to accelerate the
demand, we may rely with confidence upon
the rcmunerative advantages to the cult
yation of the crop in Virginia. Her lati-
tude enables her to send her crop in good
order to all the northern cities. She is the
first to send forward the crop in the order
it is desired and her fruit is in the market
when there is no competing fruit to shave
down its value. Not so with the northern
States, whose strawberry crop has to en-
counter the raspberries Of more southern
ATTITUDES. The strawberry is ii cosmopoli-
tan fruit, and grows luxuriantly in all lati-
tudes from near Greenland to Texas. 1t is
said that in Norway it reddens the fields and
dyes the boots of the horses as they traverse
the plains. But here in Virginia it attains
perfe ction in abundance and quality that
cannot be surpassed anywhere, and, with
her advantages, may be steadily cultivated
with certainty Of remuneration.