Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-25
Difficulties in Growing Strawberries.

Difficulties in Growing Strawberries.
F.. w. Wooster of Hancock writes the |
New England Homestead as follows;
There are no fruits grown which are
subject to so many changes in popular
ity as to variety, as the strawberry.
While there are several reasons for
this. there are only two which figure
largely. They are, the natural ten
dency of the strawberry. under ordi-
rary culture, to degenerate, and the
constant Improvement of varieties.
While there are no fruits grown
which will adapt themselves to a great
! er variety of climatic conditions, the
popularity. or otherwise, of many
| varieties is much influenced by local
conditions. Varieties that may be the
| most popular in one locality seldom are
| in any other. Because of this tendency
| to deteriorate and the constant i'm
provement in the way of novelties, in
q decade of years the list of varieties
becomes well-nigh completely changed
with every grower who keeps up with
the times.
Strawberries degenerate quickly un-
der careless culture. They came from
the wild berries, originally. and have
been brought up to their present state
by the most painstaking care of Gull
turc, propa CATION and selection. They
have had such a pampered life, that
they are very sensitive 10 the least
neglect, and in this connection, it must
rot be forgotten that varieties beyond
n certain period of years are affected
by age.
With the very best of care all varie-
ties will in time run out. With the
best Of culture the age at which varie-
ties begin to show weakness varies
with different varieties, according to
their natural constitution and balance
Of powers. Such heavy fruiting varie-
ties as the Parker Earle and Clyde will
wel: out much more quickly than the
Sample, or Edbach, because the foliage
. and root power of the two former do
not well balance their fruiting prOpen-
sites This balance is well sustained
: in the two latter.
In order to preserve the profitable
cruiting life of any variety as long as
possible. special care must be given to
the propagating beds. Nothing but the
strongest and best plants should be
selected for planting, and only that
their value. The demands of different
varieties must be carefully studied and
their requirements met.
Varieties with Scant foliage require
more nitrogen than those with strong,
abundant foliage. Potash is special
fruit food. Experimenting will teach
many useful lessons. The best plants
grown Cor fruiting can only be the best
plants for setting. The great violation
of this Jaw by the commercial plant
grower is the most prolific source of
plant degeneracy. When a new varie-
. ity is created and introduced of ex-
ceptonal merit, they at once seek to
multiply it rapidly possible by
Il growing AS great Il number of plants
:. as possible on comparatively
small patch Of ground-forced by
highly heterogeneous manures and water.
Thus the first step is taken along the
line of degeneration before it leaves
the originator.
| l have found that under my system
| of culture | can much improve, each
season, for several years. all the novel
ties that come to my hands. There are
. those who for the purpose of drawing
trade to themselves claim to have
pedigree" plants propagated by the
runner process from varieties. indi-
viduai plants selected of perfect type
of fruit. There is no value in such
statements further than what it profits
. those who make such claims. In the
| first place no "pedgree' relation can
possibly be established by any such
method of propagation. and the theory
of perfect type of fruit" has no foun-
dation in fact in the law of plant life.
Local influences alone are RESPONSE
BILE for all the changes which may ap
pear in any variety. Select for health
and strength. culture for the purpose
of bringing out the highest possbil-
ties. and you will have done all that
Iyou can do. Nature alone must be
looked to to do the remainder.
| our northern cities are now supplied
with this fruit fresh nearly every
lmonth of the year. 1t will not be long
before YOU will see this fruit in our
markets every month of the year. They
Iare now grown SO large that the name
I"Small fruit" in which class they were
first placed. seems very inappropriate.
| We have many better varieties than
we had ten or y years ago. Most
ESPECIALLY is this true as to the size of
the fruit which seems to be the popu-
lar inquiry at the present time. Big
berries Is what our markets now most
lily demand
| OF all the varieties that have come
forth of late none give greater prom
Use than the Uncle Jim (Dornam. IT
Combipes in Il high degree more of the
VERY desirable qualities that are found
in the strawberry than any other
strawberry l have ever seen. l believe
it has a great future. 1t has fruit.ed
with me two seasons and shows UP
wonderfully. Until the advent of the