228 . BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



berry that will go onto the market with good size, good color and good 

 condition will bring the price regardless of its quality. 



In a home market direct to regular customers, quality should have 

 considerable consideration, but then it is pretty hard to convince a cus- 

 tomer that he should buy that crate of berries for their quality along 

 side of a crate of large berries that have the size but not the quality. He 

 will always think you are keeping them for some better friend than he is. 

 The growing qualities of a strawberry should be taken into considera- 

 tion. A healthy plant, free from disease, and that will withstand dry 

 and cold weather, and will make a business bed. Different kinds of soil 

 will require different varieties of plants. On low marsh land I would 

 advise the Parker type of plant; on light sand, the Wilson type; on heavy 

 clay, the Marshall or Gaudy type, while on alluvial soil all the varieties 

 can be tested and used to suit the locality and the habits of the grower. 

 On my soil the Warfield seems to meet more of the general character- 

 istics of a first class berry than any other. Its size, color and quality 

 comes nearer to a first class berry than any other; yet in the hands of 

 a careless grower it is a failui'e. It requires good soil and great restric- 

 tion in plant making and needs to be properly pollenized. The next most 

 productive berry is the Haverland. It has the size and productiveness 

 but lacks color and solidity. The Lovetts and Clyde are the next most 

 productive, but lack color and good looks. 



In the newer list of berries I am better pleased with Senator Dunlop 

 than any other. It has done well with me. It has good color and the 

 general characteristics of a good berry. The next would be Klondyke 

 and Aroma. For moderately late berries these two are the best I know of, 

 and a grower will make no mistake in giving them a trial. 



My advice to amateurs would be to start with the standard varieties 

 and then each year experiment in a ti-ial bed a few different kinds until 

 you find the best there is for your soil and methods of growing, and by 

 that time, if you get to be a strawberry enthusiast and fall in love with 

 the business, you will keep on looking for perfection to the end of the 

 journey and perhaps will be no nearer the goal of perfection than when 

 you started. 



My planting for market would be about as follows: 



Warfield 40 per cent. 



Lovetts 10 per cent. 



Haverlands 10 per cent. 



Aroma ■ 10 per cent. 



Senator Dunlap 10 per cent. 



Klondyke 10 per cent. 



Other varieties 10 per cent. 



