232 Strawberry-Growing 



order named ; that runners formed later than these, and 

 especially alley plants, never should be used, even though 

 of good size. The theory was that these plants had not 

 developed strong fruit-buds, hence they would tend to run 

 to vines rather than to fruit. Later evidence has shown 

 that tip plants of fair size start off better in the spring, 

 and have fewer fruit buds than older plants, which is an 

 advantage. S. H. Warren of Massachusetts says, "I am 

 not afraid to set small tip end plants, particularly of those 

 varieties that are poor plant-makers. They will produce 

 more runners than large, overgrown plants of the same 

 variety which are prevented from making the most plants 

 by the necessity for developing their fruit-buds.'* He 

 refers to plants that are small because they were produced 

 late in the season, not to older plants that are small be- 

 cause they have been crowded in the row. There is no 

 evidence that propagation from late-formed runners tends 

 to barrenness. In ordinary nursery practice the entire 

 propagating row is dug and all the plants that are large 

 enough are sold, regardless of their age. It is likely that 

 the vigor of the plant, particularly the strength of the 

 root system, is more important than the time of year 

 when it was produced. 



The so-called "pedigree strawberry plants," those that 

 are said to have been propagated for a number of genera- 

 tions from the best mother plants, have not proved to be 

 superior to ordinary well grown nursery stock. If plants 

 are selected rigidly for a long term of years, it is possible 

 that the character of the variety may be modified to an 

 appreciable extent, but as commonly applied, the term 

 is misleading.^ 



1 This is considered at greater length in "The Strawberry in North 

 America," Chapter V. 



