Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-06-20
OCCUPATION FOR WOMEN.
May They Not be Successful Lords of the
Soil.

Matthew Crawford, of Cuyahoga Falls,
Ohio, sends us his pamphlet on the cult
walton of small fruits. II is valuable lit
tie pamphlet We have been particularly
struck with Mr.. CraWford's sensible re-
marks made at the meeting of the Missls-
sippi Valley Horticultural Society, i'll jan
uary last, on fruit-growing as an occupa-
ton for women.
There is a pursuit in which very few
women are as yet engaged which offers
more advantages with fewer drawbacks
than any other to which she can turn her
attention. This is the cultivation of small
fruits. The leading characteristics of this
work are such as to recommend it especial
~ to women 1t is not laboriouS docs not
require great physical strength, and yet ii
furnishes proper and plentiful exercise for
both mind and body There is but little
heavy work connected with 1t. and that
little can be hired. 1t does not require
much capital. But little land is required,
and no expensive implements. When the
business is begun in a small way, and grad
ually increased, there is scarcely any ex-
penSe worth naming.
Fruit-growers meet with less opposition
than almost any other class, and next TO
none from coarse or ignorant people. Their
products generally meet with ready sale,
and here, for once, woman has an equal
chance with man. When she sends fruit
to market 10 one demands 1t for hall price
because it was grown by Il woman. Fine
fruit sells on its own merits, and while il
has no fixed value like wheat, good arti-
Gle is always in demand at paying price
No advertising is needed TO sell II. and nc
money is spent in building up trade II
can be grown in any part OF the country
and there is a market for II wherever peo-
Pile live. The demand for fruit is not based
simply upon its being delicious and attract
i've tits real need. The human system
has a natural appetite for the combination
of acids and sugar that is found III berries
When we think of the thousands and mill
ions of people who live in cities and raise
nothing we partly realize the extent OF the
demand for fruits and the conclusion IS
that for long time to come the demand
will exceed the supply. True, the market
is sometimes oyerstoeked for day or two
but in such case the producer can dry OF
can the surplus. The market for dried
| fruit is never oyerstocked.
Small fruit growers have another adj
vantage i'll the fact that their products come
! into market in the summer, when people
have money, and are liberal in spending IL
rather than in the winter, when many are
| idle. and when those who have employ
ment find that the necessaries of life make
such heavy demands upon their earnings
that they have little left for Injuries
The advantage of being ones own en-
ployer is worth much. No one can fully
appreciate this until he has been subject tc
| the call of bell or whistle. There is mo-
a single qualification needed for the bust
ness of growing small fruits that woman
| does not possess Indeed, much larger
proportion of women than of men arr
suited to the work. Farmers in general
| will let their families go without frui
rather than to raise it, but farmers wive'
are interested in horticulture. They raist
! the flowers, and often the vegetables. They
attend TO details They are in sympath,
with their pets, and learn their habits mucf
| sooner than men do. AS q rule they ar