306 Appendix, 



The garden strawberry is an American product. It adapts itself to a wider 

 range of latitude and to greater extremes in environment than any other culti- 

 vated fruit. It is universally liked and is cosmopolitan in its adaptions. 



PROPAGATION. 



THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SORTS. 



The factor of uncertainty and chance which goes with the propagation of 

 plants for the purpose of securing new varieties makes this one of the most 

 fascinating branches of horticultural work. During recent years this line of 

 endeavor has become of such great moment that some men have given their 

 whole time and attention to it. The increased importance attached to this work 

 is not so much the result of a demand for new sorts, as for sorts carrying 

 certain advantageous attributes. The knowledge that certain colors, flavors and 

 types of fruit are in greater demand than others has created a sentiment in 

 favor of breeding varieties possessing such peculiarities. A more important 

 consideration even than this is the fact that certain strains and varieties of 

 plants are found to resst diseases better than others, to be better fitted to with- 

 stand adverse climatic and soil conditions, and to be richer in certain elements — 

 such as sugar, acid or oil — which may give an advantage over other sorts. The 

 work of determining qualities which are of special advantage and of securing 

 varieties which possess these characteristics in a marked degree has come to 

 ibe the task of the variety maker. 



In the strawberry a very attractive subject for such efforts is presented. 

 It is a plant which is readily propagated by seeds, which is, of course, the only 

 means of securing new forms. The seeds may be selected from plants showing 

 the desired tendencies, or they may be produced by crossing two plants possessing 

 characteristics which it would be desirable to combine in one plant. In any 

 event the seed is the medium through which variation in any direction is ex- 

 pected. But fortunately for the breeder the strawberry is provided with a 

 means of self-preservation through the agency of runners (stolons), which 

 enables the propagator to perpetuate any plant he may develop without fear of 

 loss or change of characters. This feature of the plant, which provides for direct 

 Vegetative reproduction, renders it unnecessary to attempt to fix the type in any 

 strain or creation, as is the case with plants propagated exclusively by seeds. 

 New varieties then are secured through seed propagation, while the desirable 

 horticultural sorts thus secured are propagated by runners. 



COMMERCIAL PERPETUATION OF DESIRABLE KINDS. 



The commercial propagation of the strawberry naturally proceeds along two 

 lines: (1) The production of standard and novel sorts in large numbers, to 

 'je sold to local or distant purchasers: (2) the production of a few standard 

 <inds for the perpetuation of an industry in which fruit production is the 

 ■jhief end. In the first instance, fruit production is only a side issue. The main 

 -.n-op is the plants. The aim is to get these as large and strong as possible, and to 

 this end the ground is made rich and put in good tilth by frequent cultivation 

 early in the season. 



The home production of runners for one's own planting is quite another 

 matter ; the fruit crop is the chief object and the production of runners prior 

 to harvesting the fruit is discouraged. The difficulty with this method is to 

 secure strong, well-developed plants for August and September planting. When 

 the main planting is done in the spring the earliness of the plants is of less 

 Importance. In favoralile seasons, however, strong plants for August and Sep- 

 tember planting can be secured even in the New England States. The question 

 of the desirability of purchasing or of growing one's own plants must be decided 

 by the planter. There is this to be said in favor of home-grown plants as com- 

 pared with plants shipped from a distance, that even in favorable seasons a 



