The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-02-21
REPORTS TO HORTI.
CULTURAL SOCIETY
History, Culture and Habits of the
Strawberry in Hood River.
BY c. D. Thompson.


The history of the strawberry, COM
mercially considered, dates from the
introduction of the Clsrk's Seeding.
Early In the early eighties O few
plants Of the variety then known az
Clark's Early we've cultivated here,
for lack OF proper attention nothing
of consequence came from them.
This variety was originated near
Portland, Oregon, by Mr.. Fred +.
Clark, a-gardener and fruit grower.
In the fall OF 1883, Hon. L. X.
Coon, now Of Lyle, Washington,
came to Hood River to seek rural
pursuits, and he Immediately secured
and planted several varieties of straw.
berries for the purpose of experiment
alton. ,Clark's Early was among those
selected and il proved to be the only
one of any promise. In 1884 Mr.. Coon
sent crate GA pounds) of this VA
riety to Portland to market, and re
ceived in return 80 and an inquiry
tor more Of the same kind. The year
following he began shipping them
into Montana; and other farmers,
seeing the possibilities for the future
of the strawberry business, .begaf
growing them, and from this small
beginning rapidly developed grea
industry within a short period o
time, amounting recently to as many
as l07, 900 crates IN single season
and bringing a return of as much a
sl75,000
This variety later assumed, and nov
locally bears the name of ClaIk'l
Seeding, In other localities, howev
er. it Is known as the Hood River
and Is shipped as such. A peculiar
fact in connection with this berry II
that 1t proved Of no value whatever
In the Willamette valley, its place o
origin. Another more interesting fac
Is that while it has been tried In al
every section Of the United States,
has never proved equal as shipper
nor reached tie same degree OF per
fection in any locality as here; an'
in many places in fact, has nesrl
always proved entiie failure. In
few instance, | has succeeded sutfl
ciently we'll tc supplant all other va
rieties. Soil I'D climatic condition
here seem to b. just what are neede
for the perfe, ion Of this particula
variety.
Many attempts have been made t
introduce otheC varieties here, with
view of finding one that would be
equal quality both for table use an
as shipper; and at the same time I
be heavy producer. The latter bs
been accomplished, but the former
never, and all other varieties hay
been discarded after a few trials I
shipping them along with the Clark
Seeding.
The harvesting OF the stiawberI
crop usually begins from the 10th
18th of May, and lasts until the mi(
die Of July. Perhaps no other stray
berry section enjoys so long seasol
This is on account of the land lying
benches, those on the lower lant
near the Columbia rIpening first, an
those on the higher benches comir
successfully late. Sometimes lit Is
long as a months time between q
first ripening on the low lands al
the first ON the highest benches.
During the packing season thou
ands of people come from other
calities and enjoy an outing and pi,
strawberries. This makes lively tim
in Hood River.
The picking is done in hand ca
riers containing six one pound boxe
After carrier is filed 1t Is immed
ately taken to the packing hous
where the berries are turned over
the packers usually women) who ca
out all over-Iipe, green, and irregul
shaped ones, replace them in 'halleck
and face them on the top with berri
supposed to represent those unde
meath. They are then placed
crates, aud each evening deliveie ed
the shipping house; where, II tn
are to be shipped long distances, th
are placed in refrigeration, and tn
sent to almost every market In &
North and Middle West, going
Montana, Idaho, Utah, Washingto
North and South Dakota, Minnesot
Nebraska and sometimes as tar
Massachusetts and Alaska.
These long shipments are possil
only from the fact OF the extIel
firmness of the berries, which allo
them sometimes to be on the way
market as long as eight or ten da!
and yet arrive in good condition.
Culture.
Plants foI setting new beds are I
ually secured by allowing the runne
to set on young, vigorous plan
These may be dug any time after t
roots have begun to form, Dut gene
ally In September or October, or th
may be allowed to remain In t
ground until spring. Before settir
the plans are trimmed, both top o.
root. Great care is taken to set t
plant firmly In the ground, esspec
iy il done in the fall, as they aie u
bic to heave during the winter. No
of the planting is done in the ia
not, however, because the grower