PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUM-Mi:il :MEETING -47 



Anotliei' one with wLicli we have been much pleased for several years, 

 of medium size, is Charlie. It is one of the healthiest of all we have, and 

 it makes all the plauts it should. It is not excessive in that respect, 

 and it has proven very productive, and for a local market it is a good 

 berr}'. It is not nearly so firm as Cyclone, but it will do all right for the 

 local nuirket and for home use. The quality is fair and its regular form 

 and bright red color would make it of value. 



Of the smaller producers, but valuable for home use, where you wish 

 appearance and quality and color, would be Purdue. The berries are 

 even in form, of good size, very regular, and of a very handsome color. 



Ideal, a kind sent out last year by Mr. Crawford, is of much the same 

 appearance, but it does not seem quite so productive. The berries have 

 all the good characteristics of Purdue, and I think, for a berry where one 

 wants the very best, the Ideal is truly named. 



Another kind I see exhibited here, that would hardly be classed among 

 the new sorts, is Brandywine. This has been fruited at least four years 

 by us, and without exception it has shown much value. It is generally 

 of good size and shape, and of a color as high as it should be, the plants 

 are healthy, and they have each year borne good crops. I have nothing 

 but good words to say of Brandywine. 



Greenville, a little older kind, is not perhaps quite up to''its record of 

 previous years, but in many sections it has been well tested and has 

 proven to be of a good deal of value for the local market. It is not quite 

 firm enough to ship well. Of course, of the older sorts, Haverland is a 

 productive variety, and, although it seems soft, ships fairly well. Bubach 

 is another of those kinds for home use, and on strong soils with good care, 

 it is quite productive. 



Parker Earle, of which I see a plate here, is oftentimes a very good sort, 

 but I would not recommend its general cultivation on a large scale, unless 

 one has strong soil and gives it the very best care. 



Mr. Kellogg: Or muck. 



Prof. Taft: I call that a strong soil. It will not do well on sand. I 

 think it is unwise for a person to use too many of these varieties. As a 

 rule, perhaps three or four would be all one could grow with profit, and 

 yet, from the fact that the older kinds gradually seem, to weaken so that 

 they are unproductive, T think it is desirable for any one in the commer- 

 cial growing of strawberries to try to keep well up with the newer sorts 

 and learn their value on his own ground. While we are having them 

 tested as much as possible, to learn their value in other parts of the state, 

 I find that with people a few miles away, with different soil and perhaps 

 different care, the same varieties in one case may be of much value, and in 

 the other they fail, so that in order to be posted as to the kinds that 

 one can put out, profitably, I think one should try each year 

 some of these newer sorts that have been tested and are generally 

 profitable and be able to select properly from them. Of course, we have 

 many other kinds, but I have picked these out as seeming to be among the 

 most promising. 



