ed by the
grocers, and many small deliveries are made each day at an actual loss
to the dealer. A large proportion of the grocery-store patrons buy on
credit and pay when it becomes convenient. Many of these accounts are
never paid. Hence it becomes apparent that the good customer who pays
his bill regularly each week, or who pays cash, must suffer for the
shortcomings of others. However, there can be little doubt that reducing
prices would materially increase consumption and in the end result in
equally good profits for the dealers. Reduced prices and better business
practice should prove to be very beneficial to grower, dealer and
consumer.

The profits derived from the sale of cheaper grades of apples to the
poorer class of consumers are not so large. It was learned that those
catering to such trade operated on a margin of 75 to 100 per cent. of
the purchase price.

Raspberries.

F. C. ERKEL, FRUIT GROWER, ROCKFORD.

Raspberries are so easily grown it is surprising we do not find more
farmers and back lot gardeners in the city giving them attention. I
believe more people would raise raspberries if they could be made to
realize what great returns they would receive for a little work and
care. As a commercial proposition raspberries are the poor man's friend,
yielding large returns with very small investment and requiring but
little land.

I will attempt to give a few essentials in raspberry culture without
going into detail, with the hopes that at least a few more patches of
raspberries may be planted as a result of my effort. With the main
points of raspberry culture given, there is no reason why any one with
ordinary intelligence can not solve the details and meet with success.

Raspberries have a little advantage over strawberries with the man who
is not greatly enthused over small fruit culture. When once established
the plantings do not have to be renewed annually but with ordinary care
will last several years, in fact they will stand more Junegrass sod and
weeds and general neglect and still produce results than anything else I
know of unless it is apple trees.

Another point in favor of raspberries over strawberries is that it is
not quite so hard on the back to pick them, and when large quantities
are grown it is easier to get pickers.

Red raspberries will succeed on most any kind of soil so long as it is
kept reasonably well fertilized and supplied with humus. They prefer a
moist loam, and