Varieties 289 



are more attracted by size, color and freshness, than by- 

 high flavor. A succession of varieties is desirable. There 

 is, also, a limited demand in the large cities for "fancy" 

 berries. A few persons will pay fifty to seventy-five cents 

 a box for these when ordinary berries sell for ten or fifteen 

 cents. Berries for the fancy market must be very large 

 and attractive in form and color, preferably deep red, 

 with a glossy, almost varnished, appearance. If they 

 are of high flavor, so much the better, but this is not as 

 essential as very large size. 



The most important characteristic of the valuable whole- 

 sale market sort is good shipping quality. A variety yield- 

 ing 20,000 quarts an acre is worthless if the berries cannot 

 be put on the market in good condition. Productiveness 

 is next in importance, size and quality last. Most of the 

 sorts that have captured the markets have been only fair 

 in quality, but firm and productive ; if attractive in color, 

 so much the better. For long distance shipment, berries 

 of medium size are preferable to those that are large — 

 they carry better. Uniformity in size and regularity in 

 shape are desirable, also. 



Preferences of the market. 



The selection of varieties is influenced somewhat by 

 the preferences of the markets. Certain varieties have 

 an established reputation in certain markets ; it is worth 

 while to capitalize that reputation. The San Francisco 

 Chronicle for 1898 contained this illuminating statement : 

 " The San Francisco market knows only two varieties — 

 the Longworth and Sharpless — and there may or may 

 not be in any year any considerable quantity of either on 

 the market. All compact, red berries are known as Long- 

 worth; all coarse, light-colored berries as Sharpless." 



