The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-06-26

4
Money in Berries.
Montrose Journal: The past TOUT
wears has demonstrated that there IS
more money in Strawberries fnan any
other crop that can be raised on an
acre OF ground, taking the sman
amount of work that it requires IN
growing same. For the past four years I
they have netted the growers an aver
age of something like $3.50 per acre. |
This year some of the growers snae |
we nave talked with have beaten thae. |
q. ". kennedy picked for the asso-
citation off OF two acres 610 cases.
Frank Sawyer the same amount. net
| ting them after all expenses were palo,
something like $275 per acre. s Y.
| Younkin had III cases off OF TWO smail
| lots which netted him 800 A. Le-
Feyre, president of the association. hao
i ten acres. about half of them being
old beds, and he possibly got the small
est yield of any grower in the associa-
1 ton and they Melted him something
over 500 an acre. While the ilrst
4 three growers mentioned had as gooo,
and Mr.. LeFevre as poor a crop as
is possible to have, it is safe to say
that they will average $175 per acre
4 net The truckmen and farmers gen.
orally should grow more berries ana
no doubt they will after they investi-
/ cate whether this article is true. me
4 writer has had several years exper-
fence in growing and watching the
growth of the strawberry industry
Some years ago a gentleman by the
i name of Stahl bought the crop at
stated price and the last year he was
here every grower lost money, the
market going all to pieces. but since
then II has been getting better and
there is not one-fourth enough berries
grown at this place to supply the mar
lket. Manager CLANCY Of the associa.
ton tells us that he could have placed
five times the crop this year i ne MAD
5Ihad them. Several parties have SEM
money here that had to be returned
There is a reason for the advance II
mice. At the time Mr.. Stahl was
here the commission men were al
fighting for consignments and tie re
lsult was that the markets were glutteo
being short one day, prices going up
! all berries being shipped to the poin
where the shortage was, thereby flood
e inc the market. The commission mel
{ nave changed all that. They hay
S formed an organization and knoS
e every day what the market needs IN
l. next day and by that method the
I, never have a glutted market and ar
e able to get good price. In fact the
d do not want consignment they pa
IS cash on track. In the old days no ca
5, was ever sold ON track or at least W
n never heard OF any being sold. Thi
o wear the buyers bought every car 0
% track. In conclusion We would SUI
h. gest that berries be graded. By S
,e doing it puts premium on CROWN
,e good stock BY so doing the pric
e would be much better and the ma
" with the first class stock would r.
ceive the largest price This ha
always been one draw back, berrie
have never been graded. The ma
& bringing in soft stuff or button
h. received the same as the man wit
k first class stock. 1t is not the case
III wheat or corn, in fact It does not al
ply any place else, why should 1t
IN berries. Mr.. Ebinger, one of the Blu,
Re ers Of this years crop, said that wa
At the only weak place in the association
&c When they begin to grade, Montros
h. will receive the best psfce as til
a. best berries going to the norther
market are grown at this place, wit
n. the exception Of one car, that was tn
m first sent out before the buyer arrive
at There were twentyone cars shippe
st this year, about the same last yea
Is IT would be well for all agriculturis
ls- to investigate the difference in tim.
and put out bed of berries next yea
ST. An industry of this kind means gre
en- deal to small town, as 1t gives Ell
wv ployment to every one that wants
he work from six years old up.
in
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