Smyrna times., 1872-04-24
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STRAWBERRY Culture Strawberry cul
ture Is now the question before our farmers,
and is being discussed more than any other
one subject pertaining to the farming interests,
not merely in this locality, but throughout the
State. No crop has increased in so great a
ratio as this. Take this locality for an example.
Within the last few weeks scores of acres
around this town have been Tor are being put
down in strawberry plants Almost every
farmer who has heretofore grown the fruit has
added to his beds, while many have lust set
out their first plants 1t is estimated bv inter
ested parties who have made some calculations
on the subject that there is, within a radius of
about six miles of this town, not less than
three handred and ffty acres of this fruit
under cultivation, and many place the estimate
as high as tow hundred. One gentleman
alone, Mr.. ID. j. Cummihs, has Just finished a
patch OF about thirty acres, while not few
have set out patches of two, three, and as high
as i've and ten acres. Our total shipments last
year, from Brenforl the main shipping point
and Clayton were $4,000 quarts, which was
In excess, We believe, of any other point on
the railroad. This quantity was grown upon
about fifty acres The same area that furnish. .
ed this $4,000 qtS. now has, perhaps, one
hundred and fifty acres in these berry plants
But two Or three years ago an acre in this fruit
was large patch. Last year the largest match
here from which fruit was shipped was four
and-a half acres-that of Mr. J. r. Alice.
This remarkable increase extends to almost
every town and railroad station on the PENN
suia, as we see by the reports in our exchanges
In Sussex county hundreds of acres have been
&c 10 this fruit, and it has become of such i'm
pUtance that especial market facilities for il
Is interesting the growers The withdrawal
OF the New York steamers from Lewes creates
some anxiety In the minds of the farmers. and
they are a2itltng for a speedy resumption of
this lloe OF boats, as well as he establishment;
OF line to Philadelphia Pu' lie meetings to
consmmate these pans have been called. Last
year the line Of New York steamers was main.
tained BY the New York stockholders Of tbeJ
q b. railroad, who then had controlling
interest in said road. Now, however. the road
Is controlled hy Pennsylvahian, who has not
the same interest at stake as the New Workers
or as residents of this State. hence there is lacL
OF confidence in the stability of the line. even
when established.
The large profits of this crop last wear has
had the tendency more than anything else to.
stimulate its increased growth. Although the
yield was greatly in excess Of anv preyions
year. no glut was produced, and prices were
better than ever before realized. The average
price Of the farmers in this locality was about
10 cts, clear Of commissions and lreipbt
Estimating the yield at $500 ats. per acre
the profit was t. " other crop was half
so valuabl.
Of course the crop has its limits, ike all
oIners ana c'"- fa.. ''..-- sill be- overdone.
Whether tLi a.I il = rs,I.ss
to speculate, as thisquestion will be determined
by practical results. The magnitude Of the
crop is surprising even to the farmers them
Selves, AID the immense increase in the area
set out has caused some Investigation TO he
made with reference to the labor required to
prepare it for shipment Ten pickers to the
acre is the estimated number required, At
this rate it will require 2j0 pickers to secure
the crop of Mr.. Cummins alone, to saw nothing
of the hundreds required for other growers
around the town. The supply of pickers in the
nelghbOrhood will not be adequate to the de
mand, and women and children will have to he
imported from the cities
THE New DIVORCE LAw.-The MARYLAND