THE MINNESOTA 



HORTICULTURIST. 



VOL. 29. SEPTBMBER, 1901. No. 9. 



COMMERCIAL STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 



C. W. GURNEV, YANKTON, S. D. 



(Paper read before the South Dakota State Horticultural Society, at Sioux Falls, 

 Jan. 23, 1901. 



In the entire list of small fruits grown for the market there is no 

 one that reaches the strawberry in its adaptability to the conditions in 

 South Dakota and consequent profitableness to the grower. That 

 this fruit can be grown nearly as successfully here as elsewhere has 

 been established, but many are deterred from engaging in this 

 branch fearing the market would be soon glutted. After an ex- 

 perience extending over many years I feel perfectly safe in assert- 

 ing that there is no reasonable likelihood of such a condition exist- 

 ing in this latitude. 



Years ago when just before our fruit was ripening, and foreign 

 berries were selling at a few cents a quart and the market glutted, 

 I looked forward to about the same market for locally grown fruit. 

 This did not occur, and I think never will. As soon as the south- 

 ern crop was exhausted, the prices jumped up, and the demand so far 

 has been greater than the local growers could meet. I have never 

 sold berries here in Yankton at less than $2.40 a case for twenty- 

 four full quart cases. They have retailed readily for good berries 

 at two boxes for a quarter or 15 cents per single box. 



We have only one foreign competitor that is in the way. A 

 berry is shipped in from Oregon, more than a thousand miles, the 

 name of which I have been unable to learn, which reaches us in a 

 condition about as good as when fresh and is of very superior qual- 

 ity. This berry sells beside home grown fruit at the same prices. 



This berry has given rise to much discussion in our horticul- 

 tural societies. Many have wished to get it, but it might be worth- 

 less if grown here. This is one of the pronounced peculiarities of 

 this fruit. The same berry which gives the best results in one lo- 



