858 Report of Tin-; Horticulturist of the 



Whyte No. 6. Whyte No. 17. 



Whyte No. 7. Woodland. 



Whyte No. 13. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



W. PADDOCK. 



vStrawberries are grown on the Station grounds in matted rows. 

 J*lants are set in either spring or fall, according as they are re- 

 ceived. As soon as the ground freezes in the early winter the 

 plants are covered with a few inches of straw or coarse manure. 

 When growth starts in the spring most of the covering is re- 

 moved from the beds, enough being left to serve as a light mulch 

 and to prevent the berries from becoming soiled. 



In the following notes the imperfect or pistillate varieties are 

 marked " P," while the perfect or staminate varieties are marked 

 '' S." The blossoms of the pistillate varieties produce no pollen 

 and on this account are unable to form any fruit when planted 

 by themselves. The flowers of the staminate varieties produce 

 l)ollen and so are able to form fruit of themselves. In any plan- 

 tation where pistillate varieties are used, staminate varieties that 

 blossom at the same time should be set in every third or fourth 

 row in order that all may be well supplied with pollen. Too 

 great stress cannot be laid on having plenty of good pollen pro 

 ducers that blossom at the same time as do the varieties which 

 they are to fertilize. For example we would not expect that 

 Michel would make a good fertilizer for Bubach because the 

 former is usually in full bloom by the time the first blossoms 

 of the latter are open. 



The yield of strawberries on the Station grounds as well as in 

 many localities throughout the state was very unsatisfactory this 

 season. This result was brought about by a variety of causes, 

 among which may be mentioned the dry season of 1895, the 

 severe winter following, and the very dry weather early this 

 spring. Copious rains later brought on the crop in this locality 

 much better than was at first anticipated. Though such seasons 

 are discouraging from a financial point of view, yet they are not 

 without value, as they aid in determining our reliable varieties, 



