Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-08-10
THE FARM AND HOME.
MORE EXTENSIVE CULTivA-
TON OF SMALL FRUITS.
A hit of Personal EIpe Prize Win
ners vs.. Common Cows-Less to start -
Danger From Impure Ice-Farm Notes
! and Home Hints.
Culture of Small Fruits.

OF remark TO InOSD residing In tne
larger towns and villages, who have
themselves become interested in this
delightful work. Much surprise is
manifested by those who have raised
fruit in small way, that the farmer,
who is favored with all the condi-
tions desirable for producing an
abundance of these delicious fruits,
should not only deprive himself of %
sufficient supply, but also neglect
such certain source of income, in
supplying others with fruit.
Having myself been lifelong
farmer, feel quite able to explain
why such a state of things exists
among the farmers as class. First,
large proportion of our farmers are
striving to manage their affairs so
that they may be able not only to
clear off the farm mortgage, but
their time is mainly devoted to solv-
ing the problem how to make both
ends meet at the close of each re-
curing year
Thus it is that we often hear the
following expressions in excuse for
not engaging in the culture of small
fruits: There is no money in it. "
at is cheaper to buy" 81 have no
time TO potter with such work" II
have no taste for it." Fruit grow
ing is entirely out of my line of
work" While all such farmers have
my sincere sympathy, yet | have no
words of communication or apology
to offer These objections may all be
easily overcome, as is illustrated by
the following bit of my own personal
experience.
For many years the meagre supply
of berries for family use were pro-
cured from the roadside and fence
corners of adjoining fields on my
farm, with occasional small lots pur-
chased at the corner grocery, or of
the berry picker who occasionally
passed the house. My family found
many of these stale and insipid, but
Concluded that we had about all the
berries we cared for, says the Ameri-
so enjoyed the work Of picking them.
What mattered it if others had been
before them in the fields, leaving
only few half-ripe and imperfect
berries to compensate for the long
tramp and tiresome work of picking.
So the time passed on, until at
last | was persuaded, by the i'm
portunities of the female portion of
my household, to make the attempt to
cultivate berries on the farm. Ac-
cordingly 100 raspberry plants, of
the Gregg variety, were ordered
from a well known uurseryman. In
due time Elephants arrived. and were
planted in rich, well-drained soil.
Although they made an excellent
growth during the season, and looked
very promising, yet it was hard to
realize that fruit in abundance was
awaiting us for the little effort al
ready expended.
The following spring the canes
were cut back to the height of two
and half or three feet. Frequent
cultivating and an absence of weeds
resulted in vigorous and healthy
growth of plants. Soon there was
evidence of fruit in full abundance,
and, ere long, the bushes where laden
with large, luscious, :et-black rasp-
berries, and at last our table was
furnished with an unlimited supply
of fresh-picked berries, of easy ac-
cess, and sufficient for the require
ments of all
Eventually our plantation was in
creased in size, other varieties being
added. including Strawberries of the
favorite sorts. Aside from furnish
ing a large home demand, the sur
PLUS was disposed of by the children
to the ueighboring farmers and
townspeOple, enabling them to gain
valuable lessons in business, and also
an extended knowledge of the differ
ent phases of human nature eXhib-
tied in their dealings with others.
As reward for well-doing, the en-
tire proceeds of the berry patch"
was allowed to remain in the hands
OF the children, to be used for their
especial benefit. Under the most adj
verse circumstances may we not in
fer that the farmer is inexcusable
for depriving himself and family OF
these luscious small fruits, when SO
little time and effort are required for
their production? 4 fixed purpose.
energy ind perseverance are the sim
pie factors required to bring about
these happy results.