Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-07-23
STRAWBERRY EXPERIMENTS.

OnQer tne tue Oh ''DbTaWDerTles,
the Horticultural OF the West Vir-
ginio Agricultural Experiment Sta
ton has published the results of q
two years trial of some forty five
varieties OF that fruit, both in hill
snd matted row culture. The text
IS supplemented by hall tone en-
cravings, which show the form and
relative size OF the various sorts at
q glance, and line chart gives the
comparative yield of the several
sorts under two systems of treat
ment.
The important point in this is
that the same plants were used
throughout the experiment.
The first half of the bulletin deals
with the general methods of straw
berry growing, such as selection and
preparation of soil; setting the
plants; cultivation; renewing old
patches; harvesting; marketing; and
q comparison of varieties. Notes on
the several sorts are given, together
with a list of those particularly
suited for family use.
The publication is summed up in
the following pithy paragraphs:
No land owner should be without
strawberry patch.
No fruit will return q greater in.
come for time and money expended
than the strawberry.
Pistillate plants usually bear the
largest fcuits, bot perfect Towering
sorts must be planted close by to
insure perfect pollination and crop
of fruit.
1t is the remarkably early and re-
markedly late crops that return the
profit in strawberry culture.
Care in grading the fruit pays bet
ter with the strawberries than with
any other crop. Make three grades
in price and in quality of fruit. The
results will be gratifying.
Use only neat clean packages of
full size.
Crop failures are less frequent
with strawberries than with any
other small fruit.
Good plants, carefully set, we'll
tended, and the fruits marketed in
attractive packages are sure to re.
turn the grower satisfaction.
For general plantation, select only
well tried sorts. Varieties are local.
Hence, failure is more likely to re-
suit from dabbling largely in novel
ties than from any other single
cause.
Test the novelties in a small way.
Do not venture q years return upon
an untriei sort.
The best berry is that which pos
sesses attractive appearance with
shipping qualities, good size, pro-
ductiyeness, ard general vigor of
plant.
The following names from the list
OF varieties on page 100 stood the
highest in 4 two years test at the
Station.
Wolyerton, Eureka, Ponderosa,
Cumberland, Brandywine, Green
vile, Enormous, Arrow, Belle, Ores.
cent, Enhance, Parker Earle, Trim
bell, Warfeld No. 2, Mary, Ameri-
can Queen, Allen.
The following names are those of
the ten sorts bearing largest fruits
in 1895:
Bubach No. 5, Belle, Mary, Allen,
Eureka, Trimbell, Brandywine, Pom
derosa, Sharpless, Rio; in 1897 the
list was as: follows: Allen, Trim
bell, Salser's Earliest, Wolverton,
Eureka, Belle, American Queen,
PonderQsa, Brandywine, Enhance.
In productiyeness the sorts range
as follows:
In 1895, Crescent, Warfeld No.
2, Sharpless, Cyclone, Wolverton,
Princeton Chief, Anon, Wilson,
Enhance, Enormous. In 1897, the
varieties ranked as follows: Cres-
cent, Ponderosa, Arrow, Haviland,
Cyclone, Eureka, Princeton, Chief,
Rio, Greenville, Anon.
Southern exposures with quick
soil and light mulch, if any, for
early crop.
A north hillside and heavy mulch
for the late crop.
Never use old sod land for a
strawberry patch.