Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-08
FARM AND FIELD.
Best Strawberries for Texas-A Good
Time to Look After Them,
Sure Remedy for fruit Tree DEMONSTRATING
Pecan Trees = Some History OF
California Fruit-6rowing.
Best Strawberries for Texas.

said the Lord could have made better
fruit than the strawberry. had he de-
sired to dc SO, but doubtless he never
did. This is probably not saying g great
deal too much so far as relates to q good
strawberry, but it will not at all do for
ties as grown under all conditions and
circumstances a really good straw
berry is certainly a really good thing,
but strawberry CHASING only medium
az to quality is no great shakes to brag
on in the way of delicious fruit, while a
very inferior strawberry is about as poor
an excuse for fruit as one would be able
to find in q long search after fruit that
would be sure to carry the majority as
something not much to be hankered
after
AS intimated by US in q former article,
there is no best strawberry for Texas.
The variety that would prove best in one
section of the state might prove worst in
another, owing to diversity of conditions.
But there are certainly best strawberries
for certain localities or, if they are not
now in existence, a little care on the
part of our people might put them into
existence.
An editorial in late issue of the Prairie
Farmer Chicago, says it is now becoming
pretty well understood that Wilson S AL
bany and the NunRn are the best straw
berries for Texas. This is mistake.
Neither of the varieties named are the
best for any place. They are rather fair
berries, 1t is true, and Will do to
put upon market where
G., r;-H
will come IN competition, but they can
never be made to stem the current
against really first-class fruit. They
stand among strawberries about as
stands the general-purpose COW or the
general-purpOse horse among stock.
And that's about what they might be
called - general-purpose strawberries.
The most that one can say for them is
that, like common stock, they will en-
dure more rough usage than will the
finer grades of this kind. 1t was this
fact, most likely, that led the Prairie
Farmer to regard them as the best berries
for Texas-the editor, while down IN
Texas attending the late horticultural
meeting, found more of them being
grown IN our state than he found of any
other variety, and doubtless their ability
TO take kindly TO any usage offered was
the cause of it.
OF the two berries mentioned wilson
is probably the best, being the largest,
though scarcely up to medium as to size
when classed against really good berries.
The Nunan though considerably smaller,
holds its own against the other on &C
count of being still hardier-it will get
along the very best it can, if you give it
fair showing, but even should you fail
10 do this it will still get along after a
fashion, regardless of weeds, grass and
absence of proper culture.
Most strawberry growers in the lower
Southern States, east OF the Mississippi
river, grow the Wilson or Nunan-rea-
son These varieties will come nearer
growing themselves than any other varie-
ties catalogued. They are for the early
Northern markets, where at the season
of their exposure to sale, they have the
field all to themselves. People buy them
because they are the only kinds to be
had. On this last account they bring
good prices, but not near so good as bet
ter berries would bring. The thing pays
the producer reasonably we'll, perhaps,
but it don Z pay the South, If a reputa-
fion for growing entirely first-class ber-
ries can be considered worth anything.
Texas wants for her different sections
better Strawberries than either the Will
son or the Nunan. If it is really the
fact that she is setting her migs for
becoming the leading fruit state of this
American union, and it looks that way
just now, she cannot afford to pattern
after her less progressive sisters to the |
extent of putting upon the markets fruits |
below the highest standards, when she |
doubtless has it within her power to do |
entirely better. She wants ''Texas |
Strawberries, that will go on their |
name like Texas pecans or Texas ponies. |
If she can't find them in any named |
varieties worked up by the people of |
other portions of the country, let her |
pitch in and work them up for herself.
The present is very good time to be
looking after the best strawberries for
the different sections OF Texas. Many
persons grow strawberries in their gar
dens for home use; they should one and
all look among them for the best, no
matter what the variety-name they may
be sailing under. II plant is discov-
cred that is unusually prolific, or bears
unusually fine fruit, that plant should
be singled out and propagated from. A
very great work is sometimes accom-
plished in this line by mere selection, for
the strawberry, like most other plants,
is often inclined TO sport or throw off
freaks much at variance with the usual
peculisrities OF its variety. While some
of the best named varieties OF the North
were originally raised from seed, not
few of them have resulted from just such
selection as we are recommending.
And the person who starts, for the
region OF Texas In which he lives,
really first-class strawberry, in both
quality of fruit and in extent OF pro-
ductiveness, may, by proper manage
ment, make for himself big money out of
the performance. II he thinks he has
good thing let him hold on to it until
few years of careful test have settled
the question. When he is fully satisfied
he can propagate and put mis- stock upon
the market for two or three years with
out any competition TO speak of, he, up
TO the time of offering, having carefully
kept his discovery within his own grounds.
During the latter years of his test he
viii find plenty of opportunities for ad-
vertising, for Texas is now getting well
up to the front as great country for
fairs and expositions.
Starring new varieties of the straw
berry from seed is very interesting, and
might pan out grand success. The la
dtes Oftan find muoh DIeaaura exnari |