Smyrna times., 1874-06-24

The STRAWBERRY Crop is now over, and
our farmers, in footing up the result, find but
poor returns for their labor During the
blue SPELL after the big rain of Monday, the
Sth, when the shipments were heaviest, the
fruit the meanest and the price the lowest, it
was asserted that the crop would bring the
growers in debt. But cooler calculations at
the winding up show a better result. We
have taken some pains to inquire into the
subject, from those who are practical, and our
information leads to the following conclusions
The yield has been from l750 to 1000 quarts
per acre for this locality, and the returns foot
up about seven cents per quart, clear of
freight and commission. In one or two in
stances the returns reach as high as eleven
ceRts. From this aggregate of cents must be
deducted cts. for picking, and at least cts
more for crates, cultivatng and incidentals,
thus leaving cents per box as the net earn
ings to the growers, or from $50 to $40 per
acre.
The crop is not so large as was expected
The drowning out by the heavy rains of this
year seem to have been nearly as disastrous as
the drying up by the drought of last year,
and the yield is not better, the former over the
latter. Three things were against the crop
the over production the bad condition of the
fruit, caused by the raiDs; and the scarcity of
money among the laboring classes in the large
cities, particularly New York. Busy workmen
IN large cities, who make good salaries, are
generally free livers, and it is they who give
life to trade. This class, which compose nine
ten:hs Of the city population, is now crippled
IN resources.
While the result is not satisfactory to the
growers, there is, however, compensation
from the crop, to the community at large, that
goes great way to its recommendation. We
refer to the pickers' revenue. 1t is estimated,
pretty correctly, that this community has ship.
ped from Clayton 100000 quarts of berries.
To pick this quantity of fruit, at cents per
quart, has required cash outlay of $4,000.
This amount has actually gone into the pockets
mainly of women and children, the majority of
whom would have earned no money at all but
for this particular crop. They in turn, send
it on its mission of barter, right here at home
every cent, and hence our merchants assert
that no enterprise in farming tells so immedi-
ately in trade as strawberry money. Thus its
consequential benefits, if not its direct profits,
entitle the crop to further hearing.
Three or four years of practical test in the
culture of strawberries has tended to explode
several well-spun thories that had grounded
themselves in the minds of the farmers-theo-
hat ho .tol l. .P. Il
ordeal through which the growers have JUS
passed.
For instance They used to argue that New
York could exhause any supply of this fruit
or any other, they could grow. They now see
that if every farmer on the Peninsula put
down field in strawberries instead of patch
he is enhancing the railroad interests more
than he is his own. They now see that, fo
some reason, as the acreage is increased tht
yield per acre is decreased. In the incipiency O
Its culture, when an acre was big patch, 4,OOt
or 5000 quarts could be grown to the acre
One grower near here raised over 1000 quart
per acre. But no farmer has been able f
pick 5000 or 10000 quarts from two acres
not recently-while the average is now lowerec
to even the low degree of 800 quarts DC
acre. They now see that the berry is no
profitable when run into field culture. Th
profit, If any, is in the small patches, tha
each farmer can manage with his own force
They now find that the expense Cf cultivation
the crop is much larger than theoretical calcu
latlons ever figured it. The following est
mates of expense is furnished US by Mr.. Rich
NJ
NJ. Cooper, who is thoroughly practical in ii
ling this and all berry crops. The estimate
on the basis OF one acre, and the yield figure
at 1000 quarts The plants will cost SIC. {
did last Fall. The expense of tillage will b
not short of $50 more. The crates for shir
ping 1000 quarts will cost s67 50 more, or
total of Sl53 so to the acre. The first year II
crop yields nothing, hence the grower laws O,
OF the use of the land and the interest of wha
ever money he has invested A patch liy
only three years, consequently the two years
bearing must pay for the year of idleness ar
meet the current expenses. II not iudicious
managed it will hardy u ... reoliremen
One acre in strawberries is as EXPENSIVE
tlllage, it is estimated as ten acres in corn. al
the cost of renewal has to be repeated eve
third year.
We have figured the net profits for Il
present crop at $40 per acre. Most grove
tell US that the contents of their purses fail
correspond with our figures, yet they are n
disposed to croak and jump at rash conc
slons. The demand will continue and mu
and will be met and the culture will 20 on
such judicious manner as experience h
taught practical farmers The days of |
patches are doubtless numbered, and tho
who have had strawberry on the brain ha
found an antidote, but another year will set
the business down to its proper sphere.
HEARTH AND HOME, the popular instrnct