The Jersey City news., 1903-05-09
A BIG BERRY CROP
Leading Growers Of Hilton
Prophesy That Our fav-
orite Fruit will Be
Plentiful.


Within fortnight or probably less,
many table will be garnished with that
luscious fruit, the Hilton strawberry,
Hilton berries are famous far and wide
for their fne flavor and extraordinary
size. The weather so far has been very
favorable for the progress Of the-straw-
berry plants, and the growers predict
a very large crop this year. All the
growers expect to exceed their former
records unless the weather takes an
unfavorable turn, says the Sunday
Call.s
If, after the berries are half formed,
there comes extreme heat and drought,
the hopes Of the growers will be crushed
The soil of Hilton is especially adapted
to the raising Of strawberries. A skill
ful grower can now raise berries to a
size which a few years ago would not
have been thought possible Hilton is
now quiet little country town. This
month it will be overrun with city folk,
anxious to pick berries. Usually all that
apply are setto work in the fileds. The
pickers are paid two cents quart, and
an expert picker can average $50 quarts
a day. Girls and women are the best
pickers. They are much more nimble
with their fingers than the men
William T. Brown, an extensive grow
er, expects to double his crop this year.
His prize berry is the Mary" but this
plant is not so prolific US other varieties
and he is now giving his attention to a
more productive berry, the "Bubaeh.' Y
He still continues to raise the MARY"
but on a smaller scale than formerly,
for the choice trade. In all, Mr. Brown
expects to get about 10000 quarts this
year.
Though Henry Jerolaman is styled the
Strawberry King" John Van Ness is
the largest grower. He will probably
raise 10000 quarts or over this year. Mr.
Van Ness's patch covers nearly seven
acres and all his berries are of choice
variety. He grows the "Mary" variety
which averages from sixteen to eighteen
berries to the basket. Henry Jerolamar
expects to get not less than 10000 bas
kets this year. Mr.. Jerolaman's special
ty is May berry, which cannot be heater
for size and favor. This variety is MOI
so prolific as others, but Mr.. Jerolamai
grows them as large as four inches i
diameter.
His NOSE prolific berry islthe Henry,
He also raises the Mary variety. Del
Ball raises the Hilton Gems and ex
poets an unusually large crop this year
Mr.. Ball does not grow any other varie
ties to any extent The Hilton Gems
are not large berry, but have an excel
lent favor, much like the wild strawber
rs.
James Crawford, Of Irving place
grows some very fne "Buhachs-" Josep
Becker ans Charles Zellers. expect yer
froo1 .prr,o +;,.- vaor
The growing of this luscious fruit
not, however, confined to Hilton. Charlie
Momm, Of stuyvesant avenue, Irvingtor
is an extensive grower. Mr.. Momm ca
culates on not less than 125.000 basket
this year. NJ. Momm's son. Robert, ha
made study of the berries, and has pre
duced some fine varieties, which Nj
Momm raises himself exclusively Hi
prize berries are. cross between tn
"Bubach'' and the "Gem" variety. Thi
produces a hardy berry of large size, an
of a very fine flavor. An excellent fes
/ lture Of this variety is that the heavy TO
iage of the plan protects the berries fror
| the heat Of the sun. The sun is the bug
bear of the strawberry grower after til
berries have commenced to form.
slight rain and a hot sun will ruin thous
ands Of quarts Of fruit. Elias Duran
4