THE last season was a peculiar one. The berries from Virginia, as a general thing, arrived in poor condition, and sold at low figures. If I mistake not, only about four shipments from Norfolk, of large quantities, sold at remunerative figures; the larger portion arriving in such poor condition that they sold for about the cost of transportation. The loss arising from this condition of the fruit was very heavy; so much 'so that one or two large operators overdrew their accounts, leaving large balances against them in the hands of their commission dealers. Southern growers have been too eager to secure a large number of acres, and in so doing have lost sight of the grand secret of fruit growing - that is, quality; and they have paid dearly for it.

The Delaware growers were unfortunate this season, in having a succession of heavy rains during almost the whole time of harvesting their crop, which was large, and those persons who sent hard fruit to market realized a good price for it. In fact, good hard fruit was in demand all the time, but soft fruit was abundant, and sold at low figures. I do not remember a year when the difference in price between hard and soft fruit was so great. The cause of this was, that the hard fruit was wanted for shipping, while the soft was confined to the city trade, and was sold mostly to the street peddlars.

There was another hindrance to getting high prices, and that was the general ripening of the crop throughout the country at the same time, so that on the first of June we had berries from all sections where they are grown for the market; and yet hard fruit sold well, but the larger part being poor, made the sales average very low.

The New Jersey crop was as large as usual, but not so generally sent to this market as in former years. The Long Island, Staten Island, and River crops were also good, and sold at fair prices.

Black raspberries were very plenty, and prices ruled low. Although this berry is not very popular in our market, the demand for it is largely on the increase, and I think will soon become a general favorite among the poorer classes, as the demand for them this season was principally therefrom.

Red raspberries were scarce, and when received in good order sold for remunerative prices.

Blackberries were abundant the whole season, and considering the quantity thrown on our market, did well; but at the close of the season the demand for them died out, owing more to their arriving in poor condition than any other.

Gooseberries came in early from Delaware; the growers being eager to realize from their sales, sent them to market when about half grown ; and as strawberries were plenty, there was little demand for them. Some which were sent, large size, sold for $5; but the small or half grown ones were sold as low as $1 per bushel. Those coming from New Jersey were larger, and sold at better prices. A few from this State were sent entirely too small, and on remonstrating with a grower for so doing, he said they were compelled to, for the worms had attacked the foliage, and were eating it all off, consequently the fruit had to be gathered.

Some growers insist upon sending this fruit to market in berry cases. This is wrong. They should be sent in barrels, slightly ventilated, or boxes, subjected to the measure of the dealers, to those who purchase them for retailing.

Whortleberries sold well the entire season; the first arriving from New Jersey about the first of July, sold for $10 per bushel; in a few days prices fell to $8, at which figure they remained about ten days, when they fell to $4.50 for hard shipping fruit; and the soft was sold from $2 to $3 per bushel. Owing to the extreme heat, this fruit has been scarce, and was received in poor condition. In many instances the pickers refused to go in the woods, as they could not stand the heat; and this season the carters have experienced another difficulty in securing pickers, owing to the demand for hands to work among the cranberries, which they say pays better than gathering whortleberries.

The past season an experiment was made of making this fruit into wine and brandies for medicinal purposes, and an experienced manufacturer has given it as hit opinion that it is better than blackberries; in fact, in every case where it was tried, it proved to be good. - C. W. Idell, in Rural New Yorker.