New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-19
STRAWBERRIES FOR MARKET
THE FRUIT is GROWN AND
SHIPPED TO NEWYOItK.
,,s sp,s,N DISASTROUS ONE FOR THE FARM
ERs THE COLD. WET SEASON
DELAYED RIPENING.

othp
-, and y.t few people realize how much night
.-, &c r.,u,roi to bring even the fresh fruits
IA yoceial.,s from the farm to the table Of the
consumer
From early February until late July straw
,.,rios can Pc. procured in the markets. while
.n-ing tn. last weeks Of May and the first ones
- 1une the season is at its height. The first
,arr,ss each wear come from Florida. then fol-
,,w those from the Caroiinas. ana as the spring
,ors ho,iu virginia berries ripon. Before they
are finished those from Maryland. Delaware and
ysw.Jersey come. and the season closes with
those from New York state. which are usually
the last u reach this market.
The growing Of the strawberry for market is
,,o of the greatest industries Of the small fruit
farmer The patch. as it is called. is laid out
IN long rows IF plants. which are well fcrt'lized
and hedged up with earth. and often extend
oyer many acres NJ ground New plants arc put
IN the patch each year. the usual custom being
10 weed 0uI about half OF them each season.
this keeping fresh vigorous young plants all
The time \ strawberry vine does MT bear well
after il is TWO years old. and those set IN this
sprng will not have any fruit until another
season So in order to keep a patch healthy
and constantly hearing old ones ar" cleared out
each fall The young plants are obtained from
suckers vh.ch run from the vines and are So
lected only from the finest stock
Each season many now varieties arc brought
out and each section II the country has is
particular kinds A. present th" most popular
varieties he II .Gman from th" Caf'!inas.
while from Norfolk ami southern Virginia come
the Hoffman and the Lady Thompson. II
Narlanl and Delaware they cultivate mostly
the Crescent the Candy Prize and > NV berry
called ta- Lloyd The berry sent from Jersey
S tn andy and the Charles Downing, which
las for many years been descr, diy y pular IN
socoun, # its exceeding sweetness. From
Western New-York they send me Atlantic. one
II the finest berries u come t. TINS market. hr-
hgReu coIored. and able to stand the .png jour
lsy without damage The tiine- honorri VIII
son. like the Norris White peach. Is known
chiefly in o.. imagination u the old shoppers.
.or there have been Oily a few IF them IN mar
ket for man years The Wilson '"e1iug. as it
was called having been superseded hy varieties
Of berries which are as large IN size and as
brilliant in color. without having their nne looks
spoiled by being coupled win such an acid
taste
THE SOIL. FOR STRAWBERRIES.
Fine gral.fy soil is the best i.ld for the
strawberry and ~iih proper care each fall and
Irng. a ju1.cious amount OF cutting back and
aiding Of now plants L patch can b" made al
NOS, perpetual In certain parts u the farming
districts of Maryland and Delaware II IS the
chief crop cultivated. and not only does IT sup
ply good part - the market Of New York. but
Is largr source u income 10 the farmers.
As the fruit begins to color the rich red which
denotes hat i' ripening. ,he real work of the
season begins. Stout wooden crates. or boxes
With Stat Sides are fitted with layers u quart
boxes divided - trays " thin board These
crates are taken in quantities 10 thr fields where
The work y the pickers is going On. All over
Ae heds Will De- seen / regiment u them work
ng diligently 10 I'll he small splint baskets.
anl as th"y are filled they are packed IN the
1 crates. which a.- placed On the wagon waiting
l the entrance If the field to take the berries
I 70 the railroad
rom early dawn until just time 70 catch the
l nsI freight train these pickers work. some
l Ines the farmer and his family do II. nut
l more often the ddrkies. who are 50 numerous IN
~eSe parts Of the country. are hired. They are
pAl by the number Of quarts Or baskets hllcd'
1 a1u good active picker can gather from Nv
i q" lou quarts in day. the prices ranging from
vac cent to two cents quart. Men. y omen and
.aHafen work At IT, for the fruit rpens all In a
e" Gays and must he gathered before 1t Is too
"ps 10 stand the long journey on the train.
Va The larger farms pickers are engaged FOR
4e season, and are often brought from distant
r~es housed and fed while they stay Where
'"'red help is hard 10 get Poles. Hungarians
~ Italians are employed A strict watch Is
A~ over them. and as each basket is filled and
s'ught to the filling the crates chip IS
AAoed out. which at the end If the day is ex-
Nahsed for money by the farmer. who has to