Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-06-20
FARM NOTES..
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SMALL FRUITS on THE FARM.

SMALL FRUITS on THE FARM
There are three reasons why farmers
do not have a succession Of fruit from
the time the first Strawberries appear
until the Concord grape is gone
First, the high price asked by many
dealers; second, the prevalent opinion
that setting and caring for fruit is Il
mysterious business; third, the thought
that II will be many years, or short
lifetime, before any fruit is obtained
believe NE are mistaken in all three
reasons, Plants are cheap if we go TO
the right place to buy them. Setting
is no mystery, and any farmer can do
it, Instead oi having to wait a long
time for returns, some small fruits will
bear in one year. How many farmers
have strawberry bed which will
Weld berries enough for home use for
two weeks, and plenty TO can?
Any land that will raise corn will
raise strawberries. Plow up a strip
ten rods long and one rod wide. Put
il in good condition, and with a small
plow Law off three rows the entire
length of the strip. Send to one of
your reliable nurserymen and get 800
plants. Selects 100 Cresents, 100
Bubachs, and 100 Captain Jacks.
These varieties are quoted at 81 per
hundred, or So TO s5 per thousand.
II over hundred are ordered, the
plants are secured at the thousand
rate. Put 100 plants in a row. spread
the plants out well, and press the
earth firmly about them. Ten days
after they are set, cultivate them with
Il two-horse cultivaior, and continue
this every week for eight weeks. You
may have TO go over the patch once or
twice with hoe, and be sure to pick
off all the buds and flower stems, for
il will not do to let them fiuit the first
season. In the fall cover with rye
straw, and in the spring rake the
straw between the rows and my word
for it, you will have all the berries a
farmers family can eat, at cost of
less than three cents per quart
Currants and gooseberries can be
raised Is easily rs corn. have tried
some six or eight varieties of currants
and find the Red Dutch the only kind
which gives good crop every year.
| wonld plant 90 two-year-old Red
Dutch and ten two.year-old White
Dutch. Set in one long row, and cul-
tivate rs YOU would corn. The second
year from planting, a fair crop will be
obtained. Mulch well in summer.
They will then retain the leaves, which
protect the fruit and give it chance
to get well ripened. Plant 100 goose
berries i'll row, selecting fifty
Houghton aud fifty Downing. If we'll
cultivated, they will give half crop
the first year after planting. Red
Dutch currants can be had for three
cents apiece, and gooseberries five to
eight cents. With little trimming
each spring, 100 gooseberries and 100
curranis will be all one family can
use. with some to sell.
Grapes can be produced at less than
? cent a pound. Put out two rows in
some lot or field near by, fifty vines in
each row, six feet apart in the row,
and the rows eight to ten feet apart.
Buy twenty Moore's Early at eight
cents apiece, thirty Worden at six
cents apiece, and fifty Concord at three
cents apiece. You can hardly make a
mistake if you buy all Concords, but
the Moore's Early comes first, then
the Worden fills in the space between
the early grapes and the Concords, and
you will have grapes for six weeks.
As support, set good oak posts, and
attach to them three good wires.
Sometime in February cut back the
new growth TO four or six buds, plow
and cultivate well.
The best and cheapest of all is the
Early Richmond cherry. The trees
are cheap, and they will grow and
bear well with but little care. The
fruit sells readily if more is produced
than is desired for home use. Good
trees, four TO six feet high, can be had
at large nurseries for $40 to S12 per
hundred II YOU have only six or
eight bearing trees, the birds and boys
will annoy yoI 50 much that you will
have To pick them before they are ripe
But get fifty trees, set them along the
garden fence, and in some fence corner
where nothing but weeds have been
growing for wears. We do not realize
that every square rod OF land on our
farm has eight to ten tons OF choice
soil capable OF raising fine cherry
tree. Look around your farm, and
see how many square rods are going
to waste which might grow a cherry,
Il peach or plum tree. When the trees
arrive, cut off the ends of the roots,
making a clean cut. Pack the earth
firmly about the roots. Keep the
ground about the tree mellow by cul-
tivating or hoeing. II this cannot be
done, mulch the trees with half.rotted
manure. After two or three years
the cherry tree will take care of itself,
and YOU will then have enough fruit
for the birds, the boys and your own
family use. One Of the drawbacks of
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