St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-04-28
FARMER AND PLANTER,
SMALL FRUITS.
They Occupy n lmportant Place On th
We'll. Regulated Farm.


They Occupy N lmportant Place On the
We'll. Regulated Farm.
There are many homes in this broad
land of ours with beautiful shade trees
to shelter from the summers heat. or
to ward of the chilly blasts Of winter.
an orchard containing everything in
the way Of large fruit suitable to the
climate, an ample garden for all needed
vegeta bles, but the small fruits, such
as berries, grapes, etc, are not grown
at all. When urged to lay out plat
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
farm: 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
blackberries 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.
If there was a berry plat near the
house it would require only u 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 "lost" time. One
dollar wisely extended for each kind
you wish, and rightly managed will in
a 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.
would not advise the amateur to
attempt to grow too many kinds of
small fruit at first, but start with two
varieties. such. as Strawberries and
blackberries, and read everything
relative to the best way to grow them
successfully. The beginner need not
expect a full crop of berries the first
season any more than he would look
for a peach tree to produce a 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 a
price for spring medicines, blood puri-
fiers, etc, just send the money to the
nearest nurscryman for berry plants.
The ripe berries. eaten with cream and
sugar and tea cakes. make des-
sert fit for a king. or = farmer. If
there is more than can be used fresh.
delicious jam or jelly may be made Of
them. No, l don't like them canned,
they seem to lose their flavor and be-
come insipid.
There are other berries that ripen
before the blackberry. but none can
take its place in my estimation. and il
l were limited to two varieties l
should select strawberries and black
berries The latter is an excellent
fruit to can or make into Jelly, jam
and other sweets. and the surplus may
be converted into wine, which is good
to take for the stomach's sake" or
cordial, than which there is no better
medicine manufactured for derange-
ments of the bowels. The cultivated
berries are larger. more juicy and less
acid than the wild ones: three things
in their favor. Two or three rows a
few rods long Of each kind will pro-
duce enough berries for any family
Patsy Shamburgcr. in Home and Farm.