Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1899-06-08
An Acre of Strawberries.

| "A year ago MEs w L. mblCueE lOt bue
proprict tors OF the town decided to put
in some strawberries in order to see II
his fruit could be successfully raised
/ here The ground was prepared we'll
! Dlowed and the plants we're set out, fer
HDizer being used in connection. No
special selection of land was made but
just the ordinary kind, which had been
last planted in corn in 1889. During
| the year the plants were worked once
and the weeds removed, but no extra
attention was given the plants The
appearance Of the bloom this spring was
not considered more than ordinary but
the final result Of the product Of this
one acre CT strawberries has been sur
. prising.
] The picking commenced about three
weeks ago and continued about every
second day until Wednesday last when
it was finished Tho total product was
4,2O0 quarts, or 175 crates with cash
result as follows: 17j crates, 4,2OO box
es, at S1.25, S2ls75 Expenses: Pick
ing, S42. 90; crates and boxes, $500; to-
tai expense $4,000. Profit, S15S.75.
This we consider more than ordin-
airy showing when we remember that
in the adjoining county Of Hamilton
the growers are satisfied with 40 crates
or $50 boxes to the acre. We have
nearly four and one-half times as many
I from the one acre in Sequachee, and
better still the berries we're all oonsum-
ed within the limits OF the valley.
Now we know that what one man
does can be done by another if he tries,
and the result of our one acre of straw
berries in Sequachee seems to US to
open a door whereby great many peo-
Pile can be helped and good supply Of
fruit assured when such is needed and
appreciated.
On the foot hills of the mountains on
both sides of the Sequacbee Valley
are acres of land which at present are
worthless, and abandoned as far as pro-
ducing any revenue is concerned. Why
cannot small plots of land be occupied
in raising strawberries with the evil
dence here given that they can be rails
ed so we'll here? The cost of strawber-
ry plants range from $l.25 to Sl75 per
thousand. The assistance of small
children can be used in cultivating the
crop.
The old adage "that it is not we'll to
put all your eggs in one basket" can be-
safely applied to this as we'll as many
other industries. But if from small
plot of land like this strawberry plot in
Sequachee, even fifty or a hundred dol
lars can be obtained, its usefulness
can hardly be questioned.
We know some will say that the pick
ing of strawberries is tedious and plead
want Of knowledge as an excuse for not
attempting to help themselves, but we
believe there are hundreds Of ambitious
men and women in this valley who will
realize and appreciate what we say, and
if they will try strawberry raising in
small way we are sure they will sue
ceed.
On almost every farm there are corn
ers and pieces of land which can be u
tilized, and our judgement is that with
intelligent application success must fol-
low.
Answering the objection as to the To-
cal market being limited we are inform
ed that twice as many could have been
sold, and that surplus supply always
creates a demand. If sufficient num-
Der and quantity of prod ucts can be as
sured we believe capital can be secured
for canning factory which will take
all products.
The matter of altitude has no count
in strawberry raising and we believe
they can be- as successfully raised on
Cumberland Mountain as in the Valley
and we hope to hear of some being
planted this year. Let no one be de-
tered from trying, merely because they
don't know how to begin. We shall be
glad to advise anyone who honestly
wants to try, and if there is anything
we do not know to our satisfaction w
/, will try and find out for them.
We are glad Of the success Of Sequa
chee's strawberries just as we are prouc
of Sequachee's grapes, which took tn,
first prize for a single variety at th
, Centennial Exposition, and particular
- ly so as failure was prOphesied in boil
instances. But the grit and enterprise
Of our town is sturdy, and in spite OF al
\ the local pessimists, it must and vii
succeed.
y. Labor omnia vinCit! Labor conquer
a everything is an encouraging motto. b
steady and persistent application an
development the Sequachee Valley ma
be made more than history.
DOn't Tobacco Spit AID Smoke Your Life Away.