The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1920-06-10
IDEAL STRAWBERRY
FOR HOOD RIVER
Gordon G. Brown)

ANfVAhANA' ~ - '''Aft
In a previous article the writer
discussed the status of the straw
berry industry under local condi
tions 1t was pointed out that an
effort is being made by the Hood
River Experiment Station to discover
some other variety OF berry other
than the Clark Seeding which may
prove more profitable The one great
shortcoming Of that variety, its ten.
dency to small yields was pointed
out.
In looking over the field for a var
iety which may prove better for
Hood River, what are the points of
perfection in a variety which must
be studied? Such a study falls nat
urally under the four following
heads; Character of plant, flower,
fruit stems and fruit.
A plant obviously to have capacity
should be large, vigorous, healthy
Crowns should be large and numer-
Gus; a good plant maker; very pro
ductiye, The Importance of these
items is self evident The plant
should be erect, mainly because such
plants tend TO hold the fruit up
wen out Of the dirt than plants of
a spreading habit Such plants can
be set more closely together and the
yield per acre thereby increased. A
moderate number Of RUNNERS is de-
sirable Varieties which make too
few runners are expensive to propa
gate, whereas varieties which form
TOO many runners increase the cost
Of production because Of the labor
involved in removing them. Crowns
should be large and numerous, be
cause they are an index of what
yields may be expected. It is need
less to say the more productive the
plant the better.
The flower should be perfect, that
s capable of own fertilization So
i'd block can then be planted to a
single varieties and no thought Civ
IN to the matter of pollination. Fur
hermore, in harvesting two or three
varieties do not have to be kept
separate. The Towering season
should be relatively late to insure |
against frost injury
Fruit stems Of the ideal variety |
ire medium to long, stiff and erect |
70 that the berries are held we'll up |
,ff the ground. This prevents them |
rom becoming soled, keeps them |
,ut of the irrigation water, lessons |
Iecay during rainy weather, permits
ven ripening, and holds them up |
where they can be easily picked. To |
ave fruit stems Of this character is
much more important here than in
EASTERN States, where mulching with |
traw or litter is practiced. There
he mulching material keeps the ber-
les clean Here the plants must
.eep their own berries clean.
The fruit should be medium size.
comic to round. regular
ark red; flesh dark red; very firm,
ore solid; flavor a rich sub-acid to
cid; quality good; seeds raised and
right yellow. Contrary to what
lany think, the large sized straw
ery is not the ideal berry A me-
iumsized fruit is most to be pre-
erred, as it is easier to pack at
actively usually ships better, and
he market will pay as high or a
ieher price for it than for the very
lrge or very small berry. Uniform
" of size is a still more important
The same price will
ot be paid for variable as for uni
orn fruit A round, round-conic or
onic berry usually packs better than
hose of other shapes A necked
erry is not wanted. Irregular ber-
les always sell for less price. The
leal strawberry is dark, but glossy
ed in color 1t must be a "live"
olor Light red, pink or salmon
olorod berries are not wanted in
ne general markets, cannot be solo
the cannories, and are practically
seless from a commercial point of
lew The berry should not only be
right red on the outside, but should
e rich, deep red all the way
trough. This is especially import
nt for canning. The flesh should ,
e very firm in texture and moder
'ely juicy. The core should be so. ,
d. These qualities are absolutely a
7senlial If the variety is to have
lirping or canning qualities.
Flayors appeal to different indiv-
uals in different ways. Some pre-
r. a sweet strawberry; some acid
sub-acid berries. For the average
arket rich sub-acid to acid berry
wanted. Few persons appear to
1preciate the importance of the
laracter of the strawberry seeds =
his is a matter of great importance
here thew are raised above the
neral surface they act as a p9d
protecting the flesh against bruis-
q. Where they are depressed. such
advantage is lost and the flesh
directly exposed and thus shining
ality is greatly lessened In addi.
IN to being raised the bright vel
w color of the seeds greatly i'm
owes the appearance of the berry
Nh its dark background.
Many Of the abiye qualities of an
'al strawberry are found in the
ark Seeding. As stated. its linn.
ng factor is its tendency TO small
'lds. Whether or not another var
" will be found which win take :
place remains to be seen. II Is
ssihle that IL such a variety is
md some of its shortcomings will
We to be accepted in order TO ena-
il 10 qualify. pa