330 



The Journal of Heredity 



These arc typical examples of the 

 resuhs which have followed Mr. Etter's 

 strawberry breeding work, and they 

 are only a few cases selected as illustra- 

 tions of these results. The most 

 remarkable general characteristic of 

 the hybrids is their extreme vigor lead- 

 ing to the production of a deep rooting 

 system and of stifT, leathery, heat 

 resistant foliage unlike any of the com- 

 mon garden varieties. On this account 

 it is actually necessary to grow some of 

 the varieties under not too favorable 

 conditions lest they expend their energy 

 in the production of a rampant vegeta- 

 tive growth at the expense of the ])ro- 

 duction of fruit. 



DIVERSITY OF TYPE 



This extreme vigor, perhaps an illus- 

 tration of the stimulating effects of 

 crossing, gives the strong foundation to 

 which many other desirable features 

 have been added. Some of the hybrids 

 produce fruit which is nearly white in 

 color and from them we have a con- 

 tinuous series of varieties with respect 

 to color of fruit up to those which 

 jjroduce deep glossy red fruit with 

 intensely red flesh. The flavors are 

 even more extensive in range. Many of 

 them are peculiar and not easy to 

 describe, some resemble the flavors of 

 other fruits, banana, muskmelon, Tar- 

 tarian cherry, raspberry, and so on; 

 and we would not greatly exaggerate 

 if we were to comi)are the range of 

 flavors found here with that occurring 

 in the ai)ple. In acidity the hybrids 

 vary from those which are insipid, 

 watery, and practically tasteless to 

 those which are very acid, lemon sour 

 in fact; and some arc full, rich, and 

 sweet. The texture and quality of the 

 flesh is another item to which Mr. 

 Etter has given sjx'cial attention, ]jartic- 

 ularly with reference to use in canning, 

 and f(jr this he has had a wid(^ range of 

 forms from which to make selections. 

 Some of the hybrids seem to j^ossess 

 practically no substance, they are ex- 

 tremely watery like many of the 

 common garden varieties, and on can- 

 ning naturally break down into a ])\.\t6c 

 mixture with little solid matter in it. 

 There are others which are somewhat 



firmer, but some of these do not ].)ossess 

 the desired uniformity of texture — in- 

 stead they are inclined to be fibrous. 

 A few are firm and solid to the center 

 with no suggestion of a core. These 

 stand up well when canned. They 

 remain firm and solid and retain their 

 shaj^e remarkably well. There is also 

 naturalh' enough a large range of sizes 

 and shajjes from small to very large, 

 from spherical to sorts which are very 

 elongated or even irregular. Some of 

 the varieties pick free from the hulls and 

 others pick in the usual way, the former 

 characteristic apparently representing 

 a heritage from the Alpine race. This 

 is a characteristic which is of consider- 

 able importance from a canning stand- 

 point. In productix'eness there are all 

 degrees up to the 20 tons per acre limit 

 of Ettersburg Trebla. A fairly large 

 percentage of the varieties are imperfect 

 flowering as might be expected on 

 account of the use of such forms so 

 extensively in the hybridization work; 

 and some of these varieties have a 

 tendency to produce irregular berries, 

 apparently on account of imijerfect 

 fertilization. These then represent some 

 of the x^ariations found in the Ettersburg 

 h\'brid strawberries, and among the 

 200 or more which have been found 

 worthy of further trial it is possible to 

 please almost any taste or satisfy any 

 demand . 



WIDE AD.\PT.\HILITY 



The question naturally arises as to 

 the adajjtability of these hybrids to 

 various environmental conditions, and 

 on this question we unfortunatel\- do 

 not possess a very extensive knowledge 

 as yet. Under the conditions obtaining 

 in the northern coast region of Cali- 

 fornia they have demonstrated their 

 excellence and fitness. These condi- 

 tions, however, are almost ideal for 

 strawberry growing. The soil on which 

 they have been grown is rich, newh- 

 cleared forest land, perhaps somewhat 

 acid; the climate is mild, and there is 

 sufficient rainfall to carry them through 

 the fruiting season in good shajjc. The 

 hybrids arc being tested throughout 

 California and at several experiment 

 stations, and preliminary reports of 



