The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-11-13

products where the
;X s! place is small and sit
~ uated near city, so
that they may be sold
to fanil.ies or hotels and restaurants.
Much waste and loss of profit will be
avoided by delivering to private Gus
toners.
An advantage in raising berries
comes from the quick growth as well
as from the small acreage required.
1t takes only IA year to get started
with small fruits. They can be grown
in an orchard and will return a large
amount of money in the years when
peach and apple trees are coming to
maturity. The more this orchard
ground is stirred the better, and the
cultivation of berries is of actual bene-
fit to the large fruits A fair yield of
strawberries will bring $500 to $500 an
acre. according to market conditions.
Raspberries return 80 to so per cent
less.
Small fruit requires rich, well
drained soil. A light. deep loan is
best. and an abundance of we'll rotted
barnyard fertilizer should be plowed
In. Soggy land is not favorable to any
kind Of fruits. but nevertheless mois-
ture is needed. and unless rain Is plen
tiful it will pay to carry water or con-
vey 1t by means Of hose.
Plant at the proper time in hills or
hedges and keep the soil loose with
hoe or cultivator. Pinch off all BIOS
SONS the first season. Mulch with
straw and manure in the fall Straw
berries are hardy and prolific. but skill
ed attention will pay In extent and
quality of production. With view to
successful marketing both early and
late varieties should be cultivated.
Raspberries are next In Importance.
There is not so much tedious work con-
nected with growing raspberries as
Strawberries, and the profits are not
quite so large. Set the plants In the
spring in rows six feet apart and three
feet apart in the rows. This gives
plerfty Of room for cultivating, which
must be done thoroughly throughout
the growing season. Some experts do
not stake raspberries, as is the custom
with most growers. When the tips are
about two feet high they are pinched
back. This causes laterals to be sent
out along the stems. In the spring at
trimming time these laterals are cut
back SO as to leave about six inches,
and they hold up all the berries they
can properly mature.
The red varieties do not need the
summer pruning. but are pruned back
to about eighteen inches in the spring.
Currants and gooseberries require
almost the same treatment and can be
considered together. One or two year
old plants are best and should be set
in rows four feet apart each way SO
that they may be cultivated both ways.
This method insures thorough and
easy cultivation. They should be cul-
tvated frequently so as to have good
soil mulch during the growing season.
1t is best to grow the plants in bush
form and trim out very little. only the
surplus and deadwoOd.
1t is very important to kill all cur
rant worms with some poisonous spray
as soon as they appear. II this Is neg
lected the bushes will soon be de-
stroyed.
When a producer has established
reputation for having a good quality
of fruit and giving full measure there
will be no difficulty in securing Gus
toners. If the product exceeds the de-
mand Of private patrons 1t is always
possible to ship to stores or commits
sion houses. Bear in mind, however.
that the selling end Of the business is
important and try to arrange In ad-
vance for private customers or retail
merchants to take the whole output