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NOTES ON STRAWBERRIES UNDER TEST AT THE ONTARIO 

 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



'WO hundred and sixty varieties of 

 strawberries have been under test 

 here during^ the past five years. 

 Careful notes have been taken upon the 

 habit of the plants and the character of the 

 fruit of each variety, and every picking- has 

 been carefully weighed and recorded. This 

 has required a great deal of attention and 

 careful work, but it has put us in the pos- 

 ition of knowing definitely just what each 

 variety has done, and we can speak with 

 some assurance upon the relative values of 

 varieties which have been subjected to a 

 test of this kind for five years in succession. 

 In arriving at a conclusion as to which 

 are really the best varieties of strawberries 

 there are quite a number of points besides 

 productiveness to be taken into consider- 

 ation. With reference to the plant we must 

 take into account its vigor and freedom 

 from disease, its ability to reproduce itself 

 by good strong runners, its ability to fer- 

 tilize its own blossoms or those of other 

 varieties, and also its season of bloom and 

 fruiting. With reference to the qualities of 

 the fruit, note must be taken of the size, 

 shape, smoothness, and color of the berries, 

 and also of the color, firmness and flavor of 



the flesh. Flavor is one of the least variable 

 qualities in the strawberry, and is usually 

 least considered. The qualities most sought 

 in a market variety are large size, smooth 

 round shape, and firmness of flesh. The 

 color may vary from a bright red to a dark 

 crimson, but a dark rich color, enlivened by 

 bright yellow seeds and a varnished ap- 

 pearance makes a variety not only attractive 

 in the market but the most desirable for 

 canning. 



Notwithstanding all the many varieties 

 that have been tried we are still looking for 

 the ideal strawberry. There are among 

 those tried many excellent varieties, but 

 even the best are wanting in one or more 

 desirable qualities. In the brief summary 

 here necessary we can only name a few of 

 the leading varieties, mentioning their most 

 prominent good qualities and defects. 



In making a selection of varieties, either 

 for home use or market, we do not think 

 it is well for a grower to restrict himself 

 to less than half a dozen kinds. He is then 

 more certain of having both quantity and 

 quality, no matter what the soil or season. 

 Such a collection should include not only 

 a few of the best midseason varieties, which 



