302 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



a more accurate expression of the comparative values of varieties than the 

 crude indication of size usually employed. 



Quality is expressed upon the scale 1 to 10, the latter, in all cases, being 

 the maximum. 



The several classes or species of fruits are considered, as nearly as prac- 

 ticable, in the order of their ripening. 



STRAWBERRIES.— (Frayaria.) 



The station grounds are now so fully occupied by tree fruit that un- 

 avoidably the last two year's plantings of strawberries have been alternated 

 with rows of trees; obviously greatly to the detriment of the former, and 

 this, coupled with the effects of the drouths of the two previous seasons, 

 has conspired to render a comparison of results in the case of many, if not 

 most, varieties, far from satisfactory. 



Conscious, therefore, that any comparison of varieties based upon the 

 actual products of this season would under these conditions prove more or 

 less misleading, reports upon several varieties are deferred to await farther 

 trial; and estimates (upon the scale of one to ten), are given in the following 

 tabulation, with reference, as far as practicable, to imperfect stands of 

 plants as well as to the more or less unfavorable conditions otherwise. 

 The product of the plant planted in 1895 and that planted in 1894, are 

 compared in the following table. 



Both plats were sprayed between April 13th and 17th last, with a solu- 

 tion of one pound of copper sulphate in twenty-five gallons of water. 

 After the fruit had been gathered the 1895 plat was sprayed, to prevent 

 rust, with a solution of one pound of copper sulphate in two hundred and 

 fifly gallons of water; and the 1894 plat was plowed under, preparatory to 

 seeding at the proper time, with crimson clover. 



So far as the strawberry plats are concerned, no insects have proved 

 troublesome during the season. 



The weather having been dry dilring the latter part of last season with 

 much strong wind, many varieties of strawberries in exposed portions of 

 the younger plat were nearly covered during August and September with 

 drifting sand. Many, thus buried, were partially uncovered, though un- 

 avoidably more or less injured in so doing, and the whole were well 

 mulched before the advent of winter. Many of them, however, were prac- 

 tically dead when uncovered at the opening of spring; among which were 

 several entire varieties. Neither originators nor introducers of novelties 

 usually supply adequate descriptions in submitting them for trial. Hence 

 the station can only assume that the plants received are genuine. For this 

 reason, and on account of variations often due to differences of climate, soil 

 or other cause, no definite descriptions of such variable characteristics is 

 attempted. 



Weight (from which size may be inferred), is arrived at by taking the 

 weight of a considerable number of specimens and dividing the total by 

 the number weighed. In the case of this season's crop, however, con- 

 ditions have been so unfavorable that such weights are believed to be more 

 or less misleading, and are therefore generally omitted. 



