THE STRAWBERRY PLANTATION 



Most Productive Varieties of Strawberries. 



liV \V. T. MACOUN, HOkTICULUTRlST, Ce.NTRAl. EXI'ERI.MKNTAl. 

 J-AKIVI, OTl/lWA. 



-^I^HE Strawberry is, undoubtedly, the 



1 



most popular fruit in Canada. It is 

 also one of the most, if not the most, profit- 

 able fruits to grow. There is, however, a 

 great difference in the productiveness, firm- 

 ness, appearance and quality of different va- 

 rieties, and the profits in growing this fruit 

 will depend largely upon the kinds grown. 

 At the Central Experimental Farm nearly 

 400 named varieties have been tested during 

 the past sixteen years, and a large number 

 of unnamed seedlings. This long and wide 

 experience with varieties makes it possible 

 to recommend certain kinds which have 

 proven superior to others. After having 

 discarded a large number of varieties, a 

 three years' test was made with no kinds. 

 Taking the average for the three years, the 

 most productive variety, the Mele. yielded 

 at the rate of 12,709 lbs. per acre, and the 

 variety 25th on the list, Arkansas Traveller, 

 yielded at the rate of 7,629 lbs. to the acre, 

 a difference of 5.080 lbs. per acre between 

 the best and the poorest of 25 varieties. It 

 can readily be seen how important it is to 

 plant productive varieties, providing the 

 fruit it salable. Among the best varieties, 

 both as regards productiveness and other 

 points of merit, are : Buster, Glen Mary. 

 Sample, Warfield, Greenville, Bisel. Marie, 

 Bederwood, Lovett, Barton's Eclipse, Bu- 

 bach, Daisy, Afton, Williams, Thompson's 

 Late, Enhance, Stevens' Early, Howard's 

 No. 41, and Mele. the last named varietv 

 having proved the most productive of all. 

 It is, however, a little under size and rather 

 soft. Further information regarding these 

 varieties will be found in the reports of the 

 Horticulturist Central Experimental Farm 



To Be Successful in Strawberry Growing. 



1^ U be successful in growing strawber- 

 ries, a rich soil must be available, and 

 Clean, thorough culture given during the en- 

 tire growth of the plants. Strawberries re- 

 quire a great deal of moisture, especially 

 during the fruiting season, and this can be 

 conserved somewhat by mulching between 

 the rows or by keeping the soil constantly 

 loose on top. If irrigation is practicable, 

 this can be used with much profit. Of 

 course there are a great many varieties of 

 strawberries, but there are only a few 

 which I have tested that are really adapted 

 to southern Ohio. One variety may do re- 

 markably well in a certain section and be al- 

 most worthless in another. For home and 

 table use and near markets I find the Cum- 

 berland, Haverland, Crescent. Bubach. 

 Ivanhoe and Allen's Seedling very profit- 

 able. They are vigorous growers and 

 hardy. The yield is large and the fruit 

 uniform. I think the Cumberland is pro- 

 bably the best for home use, but for ship- 

 ping is not so desirable. 



When setting the plants in spring, pre- 

 pare the bed thoroughly, see that the soil is 

 rich and as free as possible from noxious 

 weeds and grass seeds. During the season 

 I pick out and mark the best plants and use 

 these for setting other fields the next year. 

 In this way the choicest plants can be se- 

 cured. I have always had the best success 

 in setting as early in spring as the ground 

 '"'•n be worked. As soon as growth beeins 

 tlie strawberry fields should be tboroughlv 

 'cultivated, and this should be continued un- 

 til the first of September. The weeds and 

 grass much be gotten rid of as soon as they 

 make their appearance. — .'lin. A ^^ricnlUirist . 



