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THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



order to keep the fruit free from contact with the soil. Some writer has said that &quot;the 

 Creator could probably have made, a better berry than the strawberry, but the fact is He 

 never did&quot; an opinion in which the majority of people will doubtless concur. It is a luxury 

 that should be enjoyed by every household in sections in which it will thrive, while the ease 

 with which it may be grown, and its adaptation to widely different soils and temperatures, 

 enables those possessing even the smallest garden patch to have strawberries of their own 

 cultivation, if they desire. A plot of only twenty or thirty feet square, set to plants and well 

 cared for, will furnish a supply of berries that would surprise those not accustomed to 

 cultivating them. 



Great improvement has been made in the production of this fruit during the last few 

 years, not only in originating new and superior varieties, in improved methods of cultivation, 

 but in greatly extending its culture, which in some sections has attained vast proportions, and 



has become a source of great revenue to those engaged 

 in the business. At the South especially has it become an 

 important industry. A strawberry field of 140 acres is 

 owned by Mr. J. M. Samuels, near Jackson, Tenn., and 

 there are many other large strawberry plantations 

 in that vicinity. It is stated that in one day in 

 the picking season 525 hands were employed in 

 picking and shipping 26,000 quarts of berries 

 from that one field. In the vicinity of 

 Norfolk is a plantation of 250 acres 

 devoted to strawberry culture. Thus 

 many of the Southern States furnish enor 

 mous supplies of this delicious fruit 

 to the great markets of the North 

 and &quot;West, and the demand for it and 

 the supply is yearly increasing. 



Tarieties. The varieties of 

 the strawberry are very numerous, 

 and the number is constantly in 

 creasing. As with all other fruits, 

 some varieties give the most satis 

 factory results in one section, other 



varieties in another, according to the soil and climate and 

 the adaptation of the plants to each, while some kinds seem 

 to thrive equally well in all sections. Then there are some 

 varieties that are best suited to home use, they not bearing 

 transportation well, others that are quite the reverse. Some 

 are of large size and excellent flavor, but are not profitable 

 because not productive; others that are of inferior quality, 

 but very productive; and others still that &quot;seem to combine 

 nearly all the desirable qualities, being of excellent quality, hardy, 

 productive, bearing transportation well, etc. Owing to the constantly 

 changing varieties, we shall describe but a few of those now most 

 in favor. 



The Manchester. This variety originated from a chance 



MANCHESTER. seedling found in Ocean County, N. Y. The plant is a strong, rapid 



grower, hardy, and very productive. The fruit is quite large in size, 



