The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-09-07
Farm And HOME.


Small Fruits and Market Gardening.
The owners of large farms, who look
down upon berry and truck raising
az small business, have not informed
themselves as to the amount OF capital
invested and labor employed in this
direction. According 10 the last CEN
sus the value IF market garden pro-
ducts sold III 1879 was over $2l, OOO,-
600, while the orchard products sold or
consumed amounted to $50,000,0 900.
Small fruits are possibly embraced in
the market garden products. There
is scarcely a doubt that were the value
of the products Of I'll gardens added to
the former the aggregate would equal;
If not surpass, the latter. Garden
ing, then, is no small matter, even
when compared with the so-called
great industries of the country, and
when the thoughtful farmer contrasts
the acreage employed in market gar
dening and the value of its products
with general farming and it's products
he will discover that there is no occa-
sion to spre"d out over township or
SO to make a living and make money
too.
To be sure there is something glut
of garden products in the large centres
of trade, but there is no general over
production as with staple farm crops,
and since increased production scarce
ly keeps pace with increased demand
there is wide field for the farmer
with limited acres to operate.
From health standpoint the con-
sumption of fruits and vegetables
should be increased, and pork proper
tionately discontinued, especially dur
ing the summer season; and as people
will learn by practice that they can do
as much labor and have better health
by giving pork less important place
in the daily rations the reformation of
farmers bills OF fare will be secured.
Why should not every family, rich and
poor, be supplied with delicious fruits
and choice vegetables? Surely not be-
cause these can not be produced cheap
ly and in any quantity required as soon
as the demand for them arises. The
large profit so often reported from
small fruit growing and market gar
dening is by no means fictitious, and
the business will bear strong COMPETE
ton and still be more renumerative
than general agriculture to the farmer,
while society at large would be relieved
OF terror ON account of trichine and
diseased meat if its diet consisted prin-
clpally of fruits, cereals and voge-
tables.
am aware that In many places q
curtailment OF the tobacco crop and a
widening out into vegetable gardening
would not be considered for moment,
because of the belief tha there is more
money in tobacco. I question this.
What tobacco grower has realized 5000
to $1,000 per acre, as reported, from
cabbages or onions, not to speak of
81, 900 to $1,000 from Strawberries or
celery, or $4,000 to $500 from cauli-
flower? These, of course, are maxi
mum crops with best prices. Never
theless, they prove possibilities, and
show a wide margin beyond the no
profit line. Capital, skill and atten-
ton are demanded to insure success in
this field, but SO are they essential in
any field. And in the coming "read-
justment," of which we hear so much,
small fruits and vegetables will occu-
py larger place on our farms and on
our tables, to the profit to both the
grower and consumer = Practical
Farmer