Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-03-18
Small Fruits For Profit =

Frank Crowley read valuable paper on
the above topic At the late Farmers Institute.
AS 1t is too long for publication in one issue
we give 1t In installments. Next week will
conclude the subject Of strawberriesl
All our orchards that have reached the
bearing age and all the small fruit patch
es that have been planted in Otero coun-
ty, where given fair cultivation, have
proven profitable. But the horticulturist
who turns his attention to the growing
Of small fruit in the future, must not cal
culate his returns from the experience
alone Of the past few years. He must
that the berry, like the cante-
loup or the tomato is product that
must be disposed OF on short order. and
since the local demand will soon be more
than supplied we must soon expect to
shipt he bulk of the crop Of small fruits.
Here in Otero county we are peculiarly
situated for the growing Of small fruits
for market, inasmuch as our low altitude
makes us from ten days to two weeks
earlier in the ripening OF berries than the
other parts Of the state from which our
main competition will come.
While the profits from small fruits as
a rule are not SO great as from the tree
fruits, the returns begin to come IN
much sooner and since a large space
must be cultivated between the rows in
the orchard and all small fruits are bene.
fited more or less by the shade afforded
by the trees, it is advisable for every
orchardist to engage in small fruit cul-
ture to certain extent. Many OF our
people who are going into the orchard
business are neglecting this part OF the
fruit industry. Land is becoming va!u-
able in this country and it is imperative
that more thorough cultivation should be
given our farms, truck patches and Or
chards, also that "A greater diversity OF
crops should be planted by many OF our
people. The scarcity OF money and close
competition in all the markets demand
this and the planting OF small fruits IS
going to play an important part in this
advancement.
We have soil, climate and water sup
ply here that Is capable Of producing I.
quality OF all kinds OF berries that will
hold it's own with that OF any other place,
and il we exercise due care in picking,
packing and marketing the crop, there is
no reason why we cannot gain reputa.
ton aud make n place for our product
that will not tend to lower in any way
the distinction which Rocky Ford and
Otero county already enjoys i'll the pro-
ductlon OF melons, alfalfa, honey, etc.
Not a box or basket OF fruit should go to
market without having the growers name
and address neatly aud distinctly stamped
upon it.
THE STRAWBERRY.
The strawberry comes first in the sea-
sou, first in the line OF berries for home
use and first in the list Of small fruits for
profit. In the selection Of varieties a
very important item to be borne in mind
is to select such list and set tho varie-
ties in such n position that those having
pistilate blossoms will have perfect
blooming sorts that blossom at about the
same time near by, TINT their blossoms
may be certain Of polarization. Same
OF the staminate sorts do not produce
pollen enough nor OF sufficient vitality to
properly fertilize all the flowers and surer
crops md better fruit can be produced
by setting several varieties together, even
il all are OF the perfect blooming type.
In setting different varieties close to-
gather for these results it ia not at all
necessary to allow the plants to become
mixed, ns one or two rows OF each kind
can be planted and the runners never
allowed to overlap. Tho following il a
list OF some Of the best kinds for home
use or market, with relative time OF bloom
ing and sex Of tho flowers Of each. Early
Manchester, Haverland, Ores
cent and Jocunda arc all pistilate and
will require u fertilizer. The Wilson,
Parker, Earl. Iron Cad and Captain Jack
are all staminate varieties and bloom Mt
about the same time 30 that any OF them
may be selected to plant with nny Of tho
pistilate kinds Just named.
Those TINT bloom medium in season
are: PistilGte-Warfield No.2 and Bu-
back. taminate-Edwards Favorite,
Candy, Downing, Cumberland, Van
Deman and Bederwood.
Late blooming: Pistilnte and
Timbrell. Staminate-Greenvil Pearl,
and Jessie.
am hardly prepared to sift this list
down to three or four varieties for mar
ket plantation. but believe that from our
experience and observation Of 10 or 20
varieties that have been pretty thorough
ly tested here would select Jocunda,
Captain Jack, Manchester, Edwards Fa-
vorite and Downing. The State Board
OF Horticulture has selected the follow
ing list for the Arkansas valley: Beder-
wood, Warfield No. 2. Jessie, Jocunda
aud Candy. This selection was based
principally on the experience OF Canon
City growers. Time will not permit me
to give n description of each OF these va.
rieiies, but merely have mentioned
these points about them as guide to
any who may contemplate planting
Dur soil has so fur produced profitable
crops OF strawberries without fertilizer OF
amy kind. but it will pay to apply either
barnyard manure or n commercial fertil-
izer. The soil cannot be made too rich
for the strawberry and so much work is
required to care for the plants and to ma
ture and pick the crop that large yield
must be obtained from the ground. II
stable manure is 10 be used on the land
1t should DO applied the year before tho
plants aro to he set, and a crop OF vege-
tables Of some kind grown on the land to
get it in an available form for the use of
the plants. II this preparation is not
possible the manure should at least be
applied the fall before and not used in
too large quantities rs it will require too
much water IL heavy coat il plowed
under. The strawberry will thrive on
most any kind Of soil, but prefers rich
clay loan.
coSTISUED NEXT WEEK.
The Best Varieties to Plant.