The Southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1895-1909, 1902-06-01
The TOugaloO Strawberry.

-"
notes, we quote the following
from a Mississippi corresLon-
dent:
For years the Tougaloo berry
has been the queen of the spring
strawberry market throughout
the Southwest and South, and.
in recent years, it has been ship
ped largely to Chicago. This
berry is not a distinct variety,
but may Dear anyone of the dozen
well-known variety names. 1t
may be a ''klondike'o an "Ex-
celsior,' a Lady Thompson"
or a "Mitchell," Cloud" or a
"Hoffman,' but if raistd in the
Tougaloo district it's size and fla
Vor are unsurpassed by the pro-
duct of any locality known to any
early strawberry makct
Perhaps youcannot find Toug-
aloo on the map! Well, thecross-
roads station bearing that name
is not much TO see. perhaps. but
you will know its products when
yon go there-that is if YOU 60 at
the right time in thespring when
thew are ripe.
What is known to strawberry
growers as the Tougaloo district
lies north of Jackson. Miss, ex-
tending scross the border OF
Kinds county into the adjoining
county of Madison, and north
ward for eight or ten miles. The
important shipping point for the
the famous berries is not-cur-
iously enough-Tougalo itself,
but one Of the TWO points lust
north of iton the railroad-Ridge-
land. the depot ola Northern coll
ony. and Madison a small village.
The variety name of one of the
favorite berries raisedin this dis
trict is the "Klondike" berry
we'll named, for its cultivation is
a veritable gold mine, with far
ure yield than many a ''claim'
secured with much labor in froz.
en- Alaska. This strawberry IS
said to have originated in Geor-
gla about three years ago, and
has since been extensively pro-
pagated in the South. 1t yields
under intensive culture the larg.
est berries known even in the
land of the "Tougaloo,' and is
further valued because it is so
easy to pick-tke entire bunch
maturing at the same time. 1t is
of a deep red color, with firm
flesh, and packs and carries we'll.
1t is self-pollenizing, and ripens
among the earliest specimens.
Obviousalv 1t is the berry for
the South, being perfectly adapt
ed to the climate. Other varie-
ties, better known than this else
where, that thrive in highest per-
lection in this locality, need not
be described.
The first week in April is usu.
ally the beginning of the straw
berry season in this locality,
though 1t has occasionally been
known to be earlier, and in un-
usually backward seasons, may
be somewhat later Then, for
three weeks the effort of every
occupant Of the fruit farms near
Madison, Ridgeland and Toug.-
loo is Dent toward the task of get
ting the berries off to market.
All the population, black, white
and tan, Wlthintermediate shades
are called to the task. Ancient
aunties and pickaninnies alike
are at work between the long
rows of vines, picking strawber-
ries. And such berries! Enor-
mously large, often over three
inches in circumference, of a rich
dark red, or brilliant scarlet, de.
lighting the sense of smell with
their aroma, and captivating the
taste with their eXquisitely de-
licious flavor!
There is no describing the fla
vor of a Tougaloo berry-it must
be sampled to be understood. 1t
Is fruit, wine, and nectar combin-
ed in on delicious whole. Doubt