102 . NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



One of the most important things in starting a berry bed is 

 the question of varieties. Some varieties do w^ell in certain lo- 

 caUties and their virtues are heralded far and wide, and even in 

 places where they will prove worthless. The Aroma, that is 

 the leading berry in southern Missouri, is almost a failure in 

 Nebraska. Our Warfield, that stands well to the head of the 

 list here, is a failure in Texas, and the Brandy wine, extensively 

 planted at Nemaha City is a failure at Tecumseh, only thirty- 

 five miles away. 



Again, the originator of some new variety has an exaggerated 

 opinion of his handiwork; his description of the berry is cata- 

 logued by leading nurserymen, and a new variety gets a reputa- 

 tion it does not deserve. Be careful of these; better take some 

 variety that has been tested in your vicinity and proved to be 

 good; or get your horticultural report and find out the varieties 

 recommended to your locality. 



Never send to your nurseryman and request that he send 

 you three or four of his best varieties unless you know him to 

 be a man of unbounded integrity, or he may be tempted to send 

 you plants that are not selling well and that he fears may be 

 left on his hands. Do not buy plants simply because they are 

 quoted high in the catalogue. That is no criterion as to their 

 value as berry producers. 



I was much interested recently by the "originator's descrip- 

 tion" in a certain catalogue, and the $2.50 per dozen they priced 

 the plants at. Being acquainted with the nurseryman in a bus- 

 iness way I wrote him a personal letter asking his opinion of 

 the berry. He replied that he had purchased the original 

 plants at a very high price and had to sell accordingly, but un- 

 less this variety did better the next year than it had in the past 

 two, he would discard it, and advised that I let it alone. 



For our section we would place the Senator Dunlap at the 

 head of the list. Dunlaps have healthy foliage, strong fruit 

 stock, productive medium large berry, good color, excellent 

 quality, a free runner and a self fertilizer. Splendids, Bisel, 

 Warfield and Crescent, all do well generally over Nebraska. 

 August Luther and Excelsior for very early varieties, although 

 the latter i.s of very poor quality and requires plenty of Jersey 

 cream and beet sugar to make the berries palatable. Sample 



