The Delta independent., 1908-03-27
STRAWBERRY CULTURE.
m.-rHE CHOICE OF VARIETIES.


own experiment station when it comes
to choice of varieties. This applies
not merely to strawberries, but to
many plants, and particularly to fruit
plants. However, among the hundreds
of varieties of strawberries introduced
every year many are tried and few
chosen. When, however, one studies
over the results obtained with varie-
ties, grown under all manuer of condi-
tions as represented at the various
branches, east and west, north and
south. during the last twenty years,
he is impressed with several facts.
In the first place he is struck with the
fact that among thousands of varieties
tested probably fifty or less may be
called standard varieties, and that the
others have brief and fieeting era of
favor and disappear. Secondly, it is
apparent that these standards are
standard for the whole country where
ever strawberries are grown. In the
third place he sees that there is pro-
gress even among these. Twenty to
thirty years seems to be the limit of
broad, general usefulness of even
standard varieties. Thus, the older
varieties, such as Sharpless, Miner,
Wilson, Downing, Windsor Chief,
Jucunda. and Captain Jack, were in
the main superseded in the early SOS
by Crescent, Haverlapd, Warfield,
Brandywine, Bubach, Bederwood,
Parker Earle, Candy, and Jessie.
While we are still too close to see it
well we are apparently in another
transition stage, in which it would ap-
pear that Senator Dunlap, Aroma,
William Belt, Klondike, akd Bismarck
are to be among the favored ones.
And after all, this is what we ought to
expect, for it spells progress. At the
Colorado Agricultural College we have
frequent inquiries as to what varieties
ought to be planted to take the place
Of another. In the nature of the case
we cannot answer such questions def
nitely, but we can point to the above
facts and suggest varieties for the
grower to test under his own set of
and we base our recommen-
iations upon the above record of pro-
yress.
A thing which should be taken into
is that neither one year
lor two years are sufficient for a test.
Thus, at one of the experiment STA
ions a few years ago certain variety
lad failed through two or three seasons
% do what, from results obtained else
where, had been hoped for it. When
t WAS about to be discarded there
.ame a season of lessened rainfall and
t made good.
Varieties vary considerably under
ocal conditions. A few varieties pre-
Ter a heavy soil and do not give their
best results on a sandy loan, while |
with the majority the reverse is true
Other varieties do their best under |
iifferent cultural conditions. Thus, |
Parker Earle and Candy are at their
pest in the hill system, and President
n tne neuSe row.
The purpose for which the berries
ire produced is factor in the choice |
If varieties. A matter which is very |
misunderstood among grow
,rs is the relation of quality to market
ng. In almost all succulent fruits |
high quality is secured at the expense
If firmness and those other character
sites which make the fruit a good
shipper. Quality is combination of
flavor, juciness, lack of
fibre, softness, ETC., but
.hese are the very factors which make
/ fruit break down quickly.
The more sugar and juice there is,
he better medium it is for the growth
If fungi; while softness and lack of
fiber make it very suscepti-
Die to physical injury in handling, and
such injury gives opportunity for the
entrance of the fungi and bacteria,
which cause decay. Hence, for home
Use and for local markets, varieties can
De grown which one could not afford to
grow on large commercial scale. One
If the finest quality Seeding berries
ever tasted could scarcely be gotten to
he packing house whole.
Another point to be noted is the sea
son of ripening, !. e., will it ripen early
or late? Commercially speak
ng, early shipments capture the fancy
prices; but for the local market or for
nome use, succession is desirable.
Again, health and vigor in the plants
are important considerations. Suscep-
tibility to leaf-spot has been dealt with
in the previous article. Besides this,