Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-06-20
o1rU0MIEG IN.
The Local Supply Being Received From Belmont
COunty-SOmsthing About Otner
Berries aud Water
melons

its height, and the luscious fruit Is COM
ing into the local market In great
quantities. There are more berries
this year than ever before. This is not
due to an exceptionally good crop, but
is caused by the greater number OF
farmers who are this year engaged In
the cultivation and growth Of the sucu'
lent fruit. Farmers can realize more
money per acre upon strawberries than
any other farm product, it Is said, and
are consequently engaging in straw
berry cultivation more extensively.
The present supply is being received
mainly from Belmont county, Inc
Barnesyille district finds the best mar
ket in Chicago, and very few berries
from that region find their way to
Wheeling. The berries consumed In
this city are grown between that district
and the Ohio river, and principally In
the vicinity Of Colerain. The warm
weather OF the past week has ripened
the fruit rapidly, and consequently
shortened the season. In a week or
tan DAYS strawberries will disappear
from the market. OF late years a num-
Der OF Ohio county farmers have en-
gaued In the growth Of the berries, but
the product of their gardens forms but
small part Of the seasons consump-
ton In Wheeling.
PICKING THE BERRIES.
The berry season gives employment
to a great number of girls and boys,
and an experienced hand can make
from $3.50 TO 81 so per day. The
height of the season comes at a time
when the schools have closed, and the
persons engaged in picking are usually
school children. They are paid one
cent box for strawberries, and one
and one-half cents for raspberries,
which cannot be picked so rapidly.
A REGISTER reporter yesterday had
4 pIeasant chat with Farmer White, OF
Colerain, who brought large wagon
load of berries down to the city yester-
day afternoon. 81 have three acres OF
strawberries aud three acres OF rasp-
berries. he said. "The former will pro-
duce this season about 100 bushels to the
acre, while we cannot get more than
eighty bushels of raspberries. There is
no farm product which pays better than
berries at present. They require cuti-
walton and care, and there are a num-
Der OF distinct varieties, some OF which
bring better prices in the market than
Others. The general impression prevails
that backberries grow wild. 1t is true
that most that reach this market do,
but when cultivated they grow larger
and better. l have been cultlYatlng
ckberries for three years and they
find a more ready sale at better prices
than the wild berry. There are also a
number Of varieties in this berry. BY
the early part OF next week the straw
berries will disappear, and few days
later raspberres will start coming In. "
WHEELING A GOOD MARKET.
Wheeling is an excellent market for
berries, both for home consumption
and shipment. A great amount is dis
posed OF to the local preserve works,
but more find their way to the table in
dessert dishes. w. o. McClusky hand
les the bulk OF Belmont county berries
coming to this city. His establishment on
Twelfth street has presented a busy
appearance during the past two weeks.
! Starting about noon of each day, and
continuing until after dark, farmers
have uuloaded the luscious fruit on the
sidewalk in such quantities as to almost
cause a blockade. The demand, how
ever, has been equal to the supply, and
the crates are removed TO different parts
OF the city and country, about as rapid
ly as they are received.
Some idea of the amount OF straw
berries handled in Wheeling, may be
learned when it is stated that Mr.. Nc
Clusky received on Tuesday Of last
week 657 crates, each containg 80 boxes,
or an aggregate of 21,024 boxes. The
average amount received daily is 400
crates. The other local dealers receive
probably as many from different points,
making a total Of 500 crates per day re-
ceived in Wheeling during the season.
Wholesale quotations yesterday varied
from 4 TO 10 cents a box, depending up
on vuallty. At market Saturday, some
berries sold as low as five cents box,
or six boxes for quarter. Good ber-
ries, however, cannot be purchased at
retail for less than three boxes for a
quarter.