The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-01-20


live well. but their tables show little
variety. and they rarely have any OF
those delightfully."- wholesome suhacia
fruits. even during the hot summer
months when such fruits are most
craved. In the fall and winter they
have apples; and occasionally there
10 n farm that has a few pear
trees; but where one farmer has straw
berries and currants and gooseberries,
there are ten that do not. II the chill
dron are too small 20 De Of much use
on the farm. they are sent after buckle
berries and blackberries. and the older
members OF the family eat them with
relish that ought 20 be an inducement
for them 10 have fruit OF their own.
But as soon as the berries are gone
they 20 back alphabetically to their diet
OF bread. and meat and milk. In Us va
rious combinations am convinced
thatitisnot from a dlstaste Of the work
or expense involved that they neglect
the small fruits so systematically. But
the farmer. perhaps more than any 9TH
er person, Is a creature OF habit lie
seldom complains OF his own work. but
hnds Il almost impossible TO step be-
yond certain accustomed limits. He
will work from early morning TIL late
night day after day and year after year.
and not feel Il any special grievance:
but II he IL brought face 20 face with
half-hours work "out OF his line In
the house. or The flower garden. or any
where. he will pay ten prices to have
Il done rather than do Il himself II
Is easy TO raise strawberries and other
small fruit. you tell him. and be agrees
with you. but says tha, "ho don't know
much about en-. and IS too old TO
learn" And that Is all there Is TO Il.
You may talk to him until the end OF
time. and he will agree with you In
everything. but be does not set any
fruit. Just the same | have known a
farmer leave his work and tramp oil
day over the fields. and return at night
with n quart or two OF Wild strawber-
ries that a fruit dealer would have re-
iected with scorn. lie exhibits them
triumphantly. and Il Is scarcely worth
while TO tell him that one-half his labor
would have set out a strawberry bed
that would have furnished him with
fne berries every day for weeks. Now
and then a farmer Ia induced 10 give
them trial. but the chances are that
his interest will not 70 beyond the set
tirg. aud that the vines will become
choked with grass and weeds and DO
plowed up At the end Of year or two,
with the remark that they turned out
Just as he expected And here lies one
OF tho great difficulties. To certain
extent the apple trees and pear trees
and peach trees take care OF themselves,
but the small fruit Is not quite so ac-
commodating. Il Is ready 20 yield an
abundant return. but must be under
stood and have some care. Perhaps the
best method Is 20 let the strawberries
bear once. and then pillow them up. |
have tried most OF the methods advo-
Gated. and like this best. Set the vines
In the spring. and keep them hoed the
first year. going over them three or
four times n necessary. Il will not
take more than half an hour to hoe a
bed large enough 70 raise fifteen or
twenty bushels The next spring take
some Of the fresh runners and set a new
bed. and after the old one Is through
bearing pillow Il up. Il is easier than
keeping the grass and weeds OUT and
am convinced gives better results. A
half days work In preparing ground
and setting plants. and another halt
day In hoclng. and the compensation Il
all the delicious strawberries your fam
lily can possibly eat. and a generous
quantity Tor your nelghbors or 10 sell
II you 80 wish.