The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-27
BERRIES ARE CHEAP
SOUTHERN AS WE'LL AS LOCAL
PATCHES HAVE BEEN VERY
PROLIFIC.
STRAW VARIETY TO BURN,
THERE ARE so MANY OF THEM
RASP3ERRIES ARE NOT YET
MARKETABLE.
LUSCIOUS MOUNTAIN GROWTHs.
Some of Them Are So Big to
Make Each One Almost
Meal.
STRAW VARIETY TO BURN,
LUSCIOUS MOUNTAIN GROWTHs.

Strawberries have never been better
nor cheaper than at the present time.
Since April 26, $50 cars of strawberries
have been shipped to- this market,
about rs per cent of which have been
sold to ST. Paul retailers, which means
that the people of ST. Paul have con-
sumed 2,692.8O boxes. of Strawberries
in two months.
Strawberries this year are of eXcep-
tionally fine qualify Commission men
say that taken as a lot this year S
crop is the finest ever placed on, this
market. ST. Paul is one of the best
strawberry markets in the United
States, and it is said that certain
Third street commission house does the
largest strawberry business in the
North
Not only is ST. Paul one of the best
markets for the berry, but it's season
is the longest in duration.
The strawberry season is not over
vet. All this week the market has
been flooded with the Michigan berry
which is similar to the Minnesota Der
nv, being small and watery, but OF eX-
cellent flavor. This week will PROB
ably see the last of the Michigan ber-
nv. and next week will bring the home
product in great quantities, as reports
from all strawberry raising sections OF
Minnesota and Wisconsin point to a
large overprOduction.
The commission houses have refused
consignments Of blackberries until the
strawberry season is over. There is
also a large overproduction of black
berries reported from the blackberry
raising sections, and it is probable that
bIackberries will be fully as cheap as
strawberries have been. In a couple
of weeks the market will be hooded
with blackberries of very fine quail
ity
The retailers have made very good
profit on berries this year, while the
commission men are complaining OF
the small margin made on berries and
the amount of labor expended in hand
ling and selling them. They act as
agents for various fruit growers as
sociations located throughout the
South, and handle the berries on
commission basis.
Five years ago strawberry raising
was not thought practical in Mime
sofa, but the last. few years has seen
some rapid strides in the fruit raising
business, and it promises to be. one Of
the leading Industries of the state in
few years.
The first berries received in this
market every year come from Florida,
followed by those from Mississippi,
Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri
and Illinois Several consignments of
berries have been received here from
Oregon, Colorado and Washington.
They are all grown at an elevation
of at least 5 600 feet above the sea
level and are the largest and finest
be, ries seen here this summer
Besides being of fine quality, they
have been cheap. The prices have
fiuctuated from day to day. The six
teen-quart cases have brought from 81
to $3.50, while the twenty-four-qu
cases sold for from $3.50 to s. Berries
were cheaper yesterday than at any
time of the season They could be
bought at the retail stores for five
cents per box, and in some places for
7s cents for a sixteen-Quart case.
Sacred concert, Hotel Lafayette, to-
day