The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-10-27
OR BERRY FARM.

In the spring of 1856. we bought plot
of ground containing about four acres.
After building a house, barn and hen
house, and stalking off ground for a gar
den and strawberry bed. we had about
three acres. The first year we let it to a
neighbor on shares, but we found, when
our part of the crop was harvested, that
it didn't pay very well.
During the winter when we were de-
batting as to what to do in order to get
the most money out of our investment, a
friend sent us copy of Purdy's Fruit
RECORDER, a paper published at that time
much interested in its contents, and sent
for his Small Fruit Instructor" After
reading it carefully, we decided to try
the experiment of raising raspberries,
and in the spring of 1887, we set out fif-
teen hundred plants. We selected the fol-
lowing varieties, viz, Hansel, Cuthbert,
chusett. Thornless Blackberry. They
were all planted in rows six feet apart,
except the blackberries they were sew
enl, and three feet apart in the row.
peas, beens, potatoes and beets. We sold
SIS worth of peas, then we planted tur-
nips on the same ground, and sold 81
worth. So. you see, we did not lose the
use of the ground, and the hoed crops
were benefit, as the soil was stirred up
frequently and weeds kept down. The
first year we only picked few berries,
enough, however, to know that the plants
represented. except the Golden Caroline.
1t is yellow raspberry, an enormous
yielder. but too soft to bear shipping
any distance.
The Hansels are all that the catalogues
claim for them-extremely early, perfect
ly hardy, very productive, fruit large, OF
good flavor, and in color bright Grim
son. Coming into market even before
the field berries, they command the best
prtces-ours being 14c. or loo. at whole
sale. and last year retailed at zoe. per
quart
The Cuthberts are a light variety of red
raspberries. We think they are the best
grown. Their fine flavor, immense size
and productiveness, make them favor
firm, and bear shipping better than most
of the red varieties. The Ohio Blackcap
is an extra good variety, very productive.
Wachusett Thorpless Blackberry is i'm
mense in size and yield.
The first year we raised plants enough
to set out 1000 more, mostly reds, as we
found these were the favorites. One reason
is that the others cannot be shipped any
distance. We are near two large cities,
and can pick our berries in the morning,
ship them at noon, and the consumer has
them fresh every day. In 1889, from S,5OU
plants we picked 300 quarts of berries.
we had no trouble to sell them all at
13c. per quart. We found this paid better
than anything we could raise, so we
have the whole three acres set out with
berry plants.
In 1890, we picked over 1000 quarts, and
this, too, after a severe drouth; no rain
for nearly four weeks after the berries
had formed on the vines. We cleared
from this crop over $500, and sold them
all to a dealer, who came after them
every day. Last year we picked $500
quarts.
We employ women and large girls to
pick the berries, and pay &c. per quart.
When they come into the field, the over
seer gives them a picking-basket contain
ing six quart baskets. When these are
filled they are given a six-quart ticket.
We have, also. twelve-quart tickets,
eighteen-quart and twenty-four-quart.
When payday comes they present their
of quarts picked. Twice the number of
quarts gives the amount due in dollars
and cents. This is the easiest, and with
us the most satisfactory way of keep
ing account with the pickers.
After the fruit is all gathered. we allow
the young plants to grow until just be-
fore time for heavy frosts. Then they
are dug, cut back to about a foot in
length. and heeled in for the winter.
The roots we have no trouble to sell at
81 per hundred, or SIS per thousand. We
shipped two large orders to nurserymen
last spring, and had another order from
Rochester dealer last fall Two hun
dred and fifty plants were sent to OEio
recently. This helps to pay for our la
Dor, and amounts to quite a nice little
sum during the year.
Should any of my readers decide to try
the experiment Qor this is a business
that can be carried on by any capable
woman) 1 will be glad to give them any
information if they will write me, enclos-
ing stamp for reply. Let me say, too
that you are surer of success as a berry
woman, than Kate Sanborn on he1
adopted farm" as a chen woman" TIC
so have experience to back this aSser-
ton. ELLA L. BARBER.