The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-04-21
FARMER ANDPLANTER,
SMALL FRUITS.

They Occupy IN Important Place ON tn,
Weh-Reguiated Farm.
There are many homes in this broad
Hand OF ours with beautiful shade tree.
to shelter from the summers hest, OF
TO ward OF the chilly blasts of winter
an orchard containing everything il
the way of large fruit suitable to the
climate, an ample garden for all needed
vegetables, but the small fruits, such
as berries, grapes, etc, are not grown
at all When urged to lay out pla,
OF ground for berries, they say: 20,
berries are such bother; really more
trouble than they are worth" con.
tend that they are no more trouble
than anything else we grow on the
iarm; so are cabbage and tomatoes
trouble, SO is cotton trouble, lots of
trouble and little profit. But. they
argue, there is no money in small
fruits, and with wild dewberries and
biackberries abund ant in every fence
corner, what is the use of fussing over
them about the house. 1t takes lots
OF time to take care of them, and be-
sides, the chickens and birds would eat
them. Yes, know they will eat their
share, but raise enough for both.
The wild berries generally grow in
some remote corner of the farm, about
a mile or more away on our Texas
farms, and unless there are large chill
dren to gather them, or the good wife
takes the babies and goes out after
them herself. the season passes and
desserts made of berries are scarce.
II there was a berry plat near the
house it would require only few
minutes to pick enough for pies or
rolls. or to eat with cream and sugar;
and the good things made of berries
would be enjoyed every day during
the season instead of occasionally.
So this year plan to set out berry
vines, and you will not. regret the
money spent nor the '1ost" time. One
dollar wisely extended for each kind
You wish, and rightly managed will in
few years increase so you will have
plants to give away. 1t has been esti-
mated that twenty-five bushels of ber-
ries can be produced on one-fourth
acre.
l would not advise the amateur to
attempt to grow too many kinds of
small fruit at first, but start with two
varieties, such as straw berries and |
blackberries, and read everything |
relative to the best way to grow them |
successfully. The beginner need not |
expect full crop of berries the first |
season any more than he would look
for peach tree to produce full crop
while young; the plants must grow
and establish roots and get used to the
change in location. The earliest as
well as the most delicious fruit we can
grow is the strawberry. There is Just
enough acid in the berries to gently
tone up the system clogged by the rich
heat-forming diet eaten during the
winter months. Instead of paying
price for spring medicines, blood puri-
iers, ETC., just send the money to the
nurseryman for berry plants.
The ripe berries, eaten with cream and
'ugar and tea cakes, make a des-i
'ert ut for q king, or a farmer. III
here is more than can be used fresh,
delicious jam or jelly may be made of
hem. No, don't like them canned,
hey seem to lose their flavor and be-
ONE 'insipid.
There are other berries that ripen
'efore the blackberry, but none can
axe its place in my estimation. and If
were limited to two varieties 1
hould select strawberries and black
erries The latter is an excellent
ruit to can or make into jelly, jam
nd other sweets, and the surplus may
e converted into wine. which is good
0 take for the stomach's sake" or
ordial, than which there is no better
ledicine manufactured for derange-
rents of the bowels The cultivated
erries are larger. more juicy and less
cid than the wild ones; three things
l their favor. Two or three rows q |
wv rods long of each kind will pro-
nee enough berries for any family {
atsv Shamburger, in Home and Farm