Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-07-28
Strawberries.

the horticultural Experimental Sta
ton has published the results Of a
two years trial of some forty-hve va
rieties Of that fruit, both in hill and
matted-row culture. The text is sup
plemented by half-tone engravings,
which show the form and relative size
of the various sorts at glance, and
line chart gives the comparative yield
of the several sorts under two systems
Of treatment.
The important point in this is that
the same plants were used through
out 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 compar-
ison of varieties. Notes on the sever
al sorts are given, together with list
of those particularly suited for family
use.
The publication is summed up in
the following pithy paragraphs:
No land owner should be without
a strawberry patch.
No fruit will return greater in
come for time and money expended
than the strawberry.
Pistillate plants usually bear the
largest fruits, but perfect Towering
sorts must be planted close by to in
sure perfect pollination and crop Of
fruit.
It is the remarkable early and re-
markable 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, well
tended, and the fruits marketed in at
tractive packages are sure to return
the grower satisfaction.
For general plantation, select only
well tried sorts. Varieties are local.
Hence, failure is more likely to result
from dabbling largely in novelties
than from any other single cause.
Test the novelties in small way.
Do not venture years return upon
an untried sort.
The best berry is that which posses
ses attractive appearance with ship
ping qualities, good size, productive
ness, and general vigor Of plant
The following names from the list
of varieties on page 100 stood the
highest in a two years test at the Sta
ton:
Wolverton, Eureka, Ponderosa, Cum
berland, Brandywine, Greenville, Ar
row, Enormous, Belle, Crescent, En-
nance, Parker, Earle, Trimbell, War
field No. 2, Mary, American Queen,
Allen.
The following names are those of
the ten sorts bearing largest fruits in
1896:
Cubach No. 5, Mary, Belle, Allen,
Eureka, Trimbell, Brandywine, Pom
derosa, Sharpless, Rio; in 1897 the
list was as follows:
Allen, Trimbell, Salser's Earliest;
Wolverton, Eureka, Belle, American
Queen, Ponderosa, Brandywine, En-
nance.
In productiveness the sorts range
as follows:
In 1896, Crescent, Warfeld No. ?,
Sharpless, Cyclone, Wolverton, Prince
ton, Chief, Anon, Wilson, Enhance,
Enormous. In 1897, the varieties
ranked as follows:
Crescent, Ponderosa, Arrow, Hay-
Hand, 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
Gov tho Lotto crop