Appendix. 221 



as a shipper, nor reached the same degree of perfection in any locality 

 as here; and in many places, in fact, has nearly always proved an entire 

 failure. In a few instances, it has succeeded sufficiently well to sup- 

 plant all other varieties. Soil and climatic conditions here seem to be 

 just what are needed for the perfection of this particular variety. 



Many attempts have been made to introduce other varieties here, with 

 a view to finding one that would be of equal quality both for table use 

 and as a shipper; and at the same time be a heavy producer. The 

 latter has been accomplished, but the former, never, and all other vari- 

 eties have been discarded after a few trials of shipping them along with 

 the Clark's Seedling. 



The harvesting of the strawberry crop usually begins from the 10th 

 to 15th of May, and lasts until the middle of July. Perhaps no other 

 strawberry section enjoys so long a season. This is on account of the 

 land lying in benches, those on the lower lands near the Columbia ripen- 

 ing first, and those on the higher benches coming . successively later. 

 Sometimes it is as long as a month's time between the first ripening on 

 the low lands and the first on the highest benches. 



During the picking season thousands of people come from other locali- 

 ties and enjoy an outing and pick strawberries. This makes lively 

 times in Hood River. 



The picking is done in hand carriers containing six one-pound boxes. 

 After a carrier is filled it is immediately taken to the packing house, 

 where the berries ai"e turned over to the packers (usually women,) who 

 cast out all over-ripe, green, and irregular shaped ones, replace them in 

 hallecks, and face them on the top with berries supposed to represent 

 those underneath. They are then placed in crates, and each evening 

 delivered to the shipping house; where, if they are to be shipped long 

 distances, they are placed in refrigeration, and then sent to almost 

 every market in the North and Middle West, going to Montana, IdahO; 

 Utah, Washington, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, anl 

 sometimes as far as Massachusetts and Alaska. 



These long shipments are possible only from the fact of the extreme 

 firmness of the berries, which allows them sometimes to be on the way 

 to market as long as eight or ten days, and yet arrive in good condition. 



CULTURE. 



Plants for setting new beds are usually secured by allowing the 

 runners to set on young, vigoi'ous plants. These may be dug any time 

 after the roots have begun to form, but generally in September or 

 October, or they may be allowed to remain in the ground until spring. 

 Before setting, the plants are trimmed, both top and root. Great care 

 is taken to set the plants firmly in the ground, especially if done in 

 the fall, as they are liable to heave during the winter. Most of the 

 planting is done in the fall; not, however, because this is better than 

 spring setting, but because the grower usually has more time for the 

 work. Spring, no doubt, is the better time for setting. 



