244 STATE BO/UID OF AGRICULTURE 



NOTES ON STRAWBERRIES. 



BY I.. K. TAFT AND M. L. DEAX. 



ISulIotiii 189, — Horticultural Department. 



The strawbonies fruited in 1900 Avcre for (lie most part planted in tlic sprin^^ of 

 1890, but many of the varieties were in anotlier ])hintation started in 1898, and the 

 behavior of these kinds was observed on the two-year-old as well as on the .young 

 plantation. All of tlie plants were set out in rows four feet apart and about one 

 and one-half feet apart in the rows, forty feet being used for twenty-five plants, which 

 was the number used for the test in most cases. The soil, although the best available, 

 was not well adapted for strawberries, as there was a shallow stratum of quick-sand 

 within less than two feet of the surface. It is a rather heavy soil containing a con- 

 siderable amount of clay, and has been top-dressed each year with stable manure, 

 but the plants sufl'ered somewhat from a surplus of water during the spring and from 

 drought during the summer and the stand secured was not satisfactory. A portion 

 of the plants were grown in hills, while the others were allowed to form a narrow 

 matted row. 



While the plants were in blossom some injury was done b}' frost. The loss was 

 greatest to the varieties where the flowers were not protected by the foliage, and 

 whose petals were open. As a rule only one flower upon a fruit stalk was affected. 

 The extent of the injury is shown in the following table. 



The plants were cared for, during the season of 1900, by Robert S. Northrop, a 

 student in the class of 1901, and- the notes were taken by him under the direction of 

 Mr. M. I.. Dean, assistant in the department. 



NOTES ON VARIETIES. 



P.Y R. S. NORTHROP. 



Big Ben. — Has a perfect flower and vines of weak growth; are not very productive, 

 berries being scattering, but have good color and flavor. In form are round conical, 

 with bright dark crimson color, medium to small in size. 



Big Berry. — Perfect flower. Vines are very strong growers, foliage rank and thrifty, 

 of good color and quite healthy. Runners numerous. Fruit stems are few and are 

 thinly set with berries. The fruit is large and of good flavor, irregular conical in 

 form and dark scarlet color. The variety has considerable merit, but lacks in pro- 

 .ductiveness. 



r>uoy. — Vines are small, weak growers with but few runners. The foliage is large 

 ;jand coarse, subject to blight. Fruit stems few and poorly filled. Berries are large, 

 .-dark red, rather soft and of good flavor. Of no value. 



Cinda.— Perfect flower. Vines very susceptible to leaf blight. Are small, weak 

 growers, with few runners and fruit stems. Berries are smooth, of dark color and 

 good form, but lack in flavor. 



Clarence. — Perfect flower. Vines are strong and thrifty groAvers, with numerous 

 runners. Are slightly aft'ected by blight. The fruit stems are few and poorly fllled 

 with berries. Fruit is of medium size, irregular, long conical and with a long neck. 

 Color dark red. Quality quite good. This variety is a good grower but lacks in pro- 

 ductiveness. 



CollingAvood. — Perfect flower. Plants lack in vigor. Foliage is rather small and 

 light colored. Runners are numerous but the fruit stems few. These, however, are 

 well set with berries. Fruit is rough and irregular in shape, showing poor fertilization. 



