The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-01-14
Horticulture.
THE OUTLOOK FOR strawberry GROW
ERS AT THE SOUTH.

Although some editors have taken
issue with an estimate printed by Us
that the total annual sales of the
strawberry product of the United
States are 500, 600, ,OOO-a stipend
Gus sum it is true, but one which we
do not consider far wide of the mark
there can be no question that it is
very large indeed. Both supply and
demand is increasing and in q health
ier ratio than in many years past.
In fact gluts in the large strawberry
markets of the North and North
west were not nearly so frequent in
the past decade as in the one pre-
vious. The worst glut that we ever
ran into was in Philadelphia in 1885.
There are several reasons why
these gluts have not been nearly so
frequent or 80 disastrous as in the
past, The wise distribution of ship
ments by shipping associations, pre-
venting congestion in any one mar
ket, has been a potent factor TO this
good end. Determination as to
varieties and the growing of fine
berries as we'll as such kinds as carry
we'll has had great effect. Better
picking, packing and handling gen.
orally has surely done much. But
probably the greatest factor of all
has been
TRANSPORTATION.
Ten years ago strawberry ship
ments went into market mostly with
out refrigeration. They were like
the mama that fell in the desert
hey must be eaten, eaten quickly,
or they we're naught. They did not
admit of very wide distri button from
the point of receival, but must be
sold and consumed comparatively
near at hand.
All this has be IN changed by re
frigerator transportation. The Der
ries under proper management ar
rive in market firm, fresh and cold.
If they arrive too late for that day 8
Sale-the berry market on Pier 90,
New York, where the cars ale un-
loaded on, being ferried over from
Jersey City, the terminus of the road
from the South, open at Q
d, m.-they can be kept fresh in the
oars for the following day. If prices
are better at any other market with !
in a days run by rail the Car can be
re-shipped TO that place. If it is
necessary after opening the car t.
distribute the shipment to small
towns by express, the berries are of
course far better able to stand this
reshipment than if they had come
without refrigeration.
OF course
BETTER PRICES GAN BE OBTAINED
under the new conditions than under
the old. Besides the business admits
OF very wide expansion if wisely
managed. There can be no question
that the strawberry is the most at
traotive fruit that grow. During it's
8 4ason it comes nearer being a staple
article of diet than any other fruit.
Its color, it's fragrance, it's earlinesR
all 90 operate to draw buyers. It is
+urprising how many pc Dp1e buy
first rate stra wberries even when
ppices might seem to keep them
above the range of the ordinary
pocket. When they get low enough
80 retail at 10 cents a quartz price
that still bears a profit TO the grower
the demand is almost without
m +, provided the quality be fairly
good
All these things should give beAIt
to the progressive berry grower, the
man who plants good varieties, cul.
ii Yates them we'll and handles thsm
we'll. His business is no longer the
"head on fire. calling
that is once was. These toward CIR
Gums Sances have elevated it into
A STABLE BUSINESS
and given more certainty TO it, and
made expansion practica 6le.
There is no reason why it sho' Id
not be expanded in keeping with
other interests of the country now
booming with suoh will, provide1
fair business Judgment is used. A
novice should not expect to make a
fortune at it quite as fast as the
average novice would like. Hard
work and horse sense are uufortun-