The question of high or low land was not settled. It was
hard for members to give up the old theory that high lands are best for
orchards in Illinois; but it may be set down as a fact that the matter,
as first brought to public discussion through THE PRAIRIE
FARMER by B.F. Johnson, Esq., of Champaign, is having wide
discussion among our fruit men. It will result in close future
observation and closer scrutiny of past results. Without doubt this is
the leading new horticultural question of the day. It requires a careful
collection of facts and a broad generalization. The theories and
teachings of the past are nothing if facts are opposed to them.

FRUIT GROWERS AND FRUIT SELLERS.

Mr. Ragan, of Indiana, read a suggestive paper upon the relation of the
fruit-grower to the commission man and the transportation companies. The
paper led to considerable discussion. Mr. Earle always sells his fruit
through a commission house. Without the commission men market-fruit
growers could not do business. He found no difficulty in getting
honorable men to do business with. When he got a good man he stuck to
him. The commission man is just as important a factor in the fruit
business as the grower or consumer. He believes in a liberal percentage
for commissions. Dealers can not do an honest business for nothing. He
is willing to pay ten per cent to the man who sells his fruit to the
best possible advantage, and who makes prompt and honest returns. The
cheap commission man is to be avoided. The proper handling of fruit by
intelligent dealers at fair rates is what we want. He ships small fruits
in full quart boxes. Uses new boxes every time. Wants no returned
crates. To get best returns we must have neat packages. Stained drawers,
baskets, old barrels, and the like do not help to sell fruit. He would
advise shipping black and red raspberries in pint boxes; blackberries
and strawberries in quart boxes. He picks his berry plantations every
day during the ripening season. Sundays not excepted. No man who is not
prepared to work seven days in the week during the picking season, or
who can not get help to do the same, will succeed in the raising and
marketing of small fruits. He has this year paid two cents per quart for
picking blackberries and strawberries, and the same for pints of
raspberries. It requires from five to ten pickers to the acre. He likes
women or grown-up girls to do this work. As to varieties he likes
Longfellow and Sharple