The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-26


 The strawberry is the most cosmopoli- tan fruit grown It is native to the entire range of plant life from the trop- ics to the frigid zone and is found grow ing in profusion on almost every known type of soil It is one of the few all season fruits. being found ripe in Ala bama almost every month in the year. Ripe fruit of standard varieties is ire quently picked in south Alabama in Jan uary and fruit is harvested from the everbearing varieties throughout the en- tire season.
 The large climatic and seasonal range of the strawberry has led to the de- velopment of very many varieties. While many of these varieties possess special characteristics of season. color, flavor. bearing habits. etc. those which really should be planted in commercial way for long-distance shipping are very few in number The number of varieties which may be planted for nearby mar kets is somewhat greater and the num- Der of varieties which may be planted in the home garden is greater still. As a matter of fact, however. those varieties which are safest to plant for long dis tance shipment are the most practical for home use as well.
 VARIETIES RECOMMENDED
 So far as Alabama is concerned the NlondylSe seems to possess in greatest 1 degree those qualities which are found desirable in the market berry. The plant has wonderful vigor and is an extremely heavy and long season bearer The fruit Is large, conical. smooth. crimson in color and very firm in texture from surface to center It is an excellent shipping berry and is held in high es- teem because of it's delicious flavor. It is somewhat more acid than num- Der of other varieties but it is probably tc this acidity that we owe its excellent keepng qualities and it should not be discarded either for home or commercial use because of this characteristic. l. The Aroma is another popular variety. The plant is vigorous and bears prac- 1 tically as well as the Klondyke but the fruit is not as well coored and being l pointed, it is more likely to be bruised in packing and shipping than a berry | of the rounder type. It is somewhat later and sweeter than the Klondyke and in some places is great favorite, ' being next in popularity to that variety. ] The Missionary is a newer variety in i Alabama than either the ISlondyke oi 1 Aroma In at least one district this variety is gaining in popularity very 1 rapidly, some growers having gone SC 1 far as to discard the Klondyke in its | ttN 'Sft tN At"o tei SNt WEI NototSb bNii'Nf l Of excellent flavor and good shipping qualities, but it is not as smooth or as | well colored as the K1ondyke.
 | A later berry than either of the three named is the Chesapeake. This is not | extensively grown in Alabama, but ouI variety plantings seem to indicate that it has considerable promise. A still later variety and one that is popular in many markets is the Candy. The Brandywine Lady Thompson and many others are general favorites and may be planted ir the home garden if greater variety is | desired.
 However, if the Klondylle is cultivated l as described below it will frequently give a seasons range of mere than two months of ripe fruit which is long enough for the average taste. The use of ont variety would simplify planting and till age operations very much