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CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



The most notable work for new varieties in California is being 

 pursued by Mr. Albert F. Etter, of Ettersburg, Humboldt County. 

 He is crossing cultivated varieties with local wild species and is thus 

 introducing factors not employed hitherto with results which are 

 notable in size, thrift and disease-resistance of the plants and in 

 prolific bearing of fruit of unique characters for long shipment 

 and for canning as well as for possession of the traditional delicious- 

 ness and desirability of the strawberry. Mr. Etter has described 

 his material, methods and results in detail in the Pacific Rural Press 

 of January 23, 1915; March 4, 1916; January 26, 1918; March 1, 

 1919, and January 8, 1921. The relation of Mr. Etter's work to the 

 commercial production of strawberries will be disclosed by the 

 wide trial being made of his varieties. 



The Banner which has been mentioned as advancing in favor 

 is said to have been discovered on the Sweet Briar Ranch near Cas- 

 tella, California, in 1899. Mr. Loftus, the owner of the ranch, had 

 a bed of strawberries of a standard Eastern variety. The old plants 

 had been dug out and thrown aside. The following spring a plant 

 was discovered which showed distinct characteristics entirely dif- 

 ferent from the others, and from this plant was developed the 

 Banner berry as it is now known. 



