192 THE STRAWBERRY IN NORTH AMERICA 



(of 



Breeding for a Specific Purpose 



Considering the ease with which new varieties may 

 be produced and the great number that have been intro- 

 duced, there has been surprisingly little progress since 

 the introduction of the Longworth, in 1851 ; this variety 

 still is with us for comparison. We have few, if any, 

 varieties that are superior in size, attractiveness and 

 quality to the Hovey of 1836. None is more vigorous 

 or productive under indifferent care than the Wilson of 

 1854. There has been improvement, but it has not been 

 as marked as might have been expected. 



Changing ideals. — The ideals in strawberry breeding 

 change with the generations. Until about 1870, the 

 efforts of northern breeders were directed mainly to se- 

 curing extra early varieties, even though this involved 

 a considerable sacrifice in yield. Then came the rapid 

 extension of railroads and the introduction of refrigera- 

 tion. Southern berries began to reach Northern markets 

 long before the earliest local berries were ripe. There 

 has been little demand in the North for the extra early but 

 light-yielding varieties since then except for supplying 

 a personal market. Forty years ago, light scarlet berries 

 were accepted as readily as dark crimson berries, and 

 sometimes were preferred. Now it would be difficult 

 to find a market for a variety as light colored as the Cum- 

 berland Triumph. In the days when nearly all com- 



