REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURAL 
DEPARTMENT. 
AN EXPERIMENT IN SHADING STRAWBERRIES. 
O. M. Taytor AND V. A. CLARK. 
SUMMARY. 
An experiment in shading strawberries has been carried on by 
this Station for two seasons and in three localities. As managed 
in our experiments the practice has not proved profitable in grow- 
ing fruit for the general market. Only when a thin cheese-cloth 
“was used was any increase in yield obtained, while with a 
moderately heavy cheese-cloth there was a marked decrease. In 
no case was the increase in yield sufficient to pay for the added 
cost of shading, which is estimated to be about $350 per acre. 
Shading produces a considerably larger berry and in some cases 
one of better general appearance. For these reasons the practice 
may be adapted for the growing of fancy and exhibition fruit. 
Shading introduces something like hot-house conditions. Aside 
from its value as a protection against frost, its beneficial effects 
are due in large part to the protection it affords from wind. 
Evaporation and transpiration are much reduced, resulting in 
great economy of soil moisture. The temperature of air and of 
soil is raised somewhat, resulting theoretically in more rapid 
growth and increased earliness, provided these results are not 
offset by too great diminution of light; but these results have not 
been obtained in these experiments, though they have by other 
workers. Interference with the access of light is the weak point 
in shading. The cover must be of such material as to transmit 
the largest possible part of the light. It is noteworthy that the 
varieties that have given best results under cover in our tests, 
*Reprint of Bulletin No. 246. 
