1742 



STRAWBERRY 



STRAWBERRY 



seems to be more certainty in growing Strawberries un- 

 der such conditions than in regions where the crop must 

 depend upon rainfall. Some varieties that are usually 

 a failure because of their deficient root-system, such as 

 Jucunda, are thus enabled to flourish to such a degree 

 as to be among the most profitable. Whatever may be 

 said of other parts of the continent of North America, 

 it is an indisputable fact that the Plains region is very 

 good for Strawberries. Good judgment in the selection 

 of proper locations and the right, varieties, thorough 

 preparation of the soil and good culture will be abun- 

 dantly rewarded. H . E . y AN Deman. 



The Strawberry on the Pacific Coast. — California 

 conditions include both those most favorable and 

 most trying for the growth of Strawberries. There 

 are situations where, through local topography and 

 proximity to the ocean, winter temperatures are very 

 seldom too low for the growth and fruiting of the 

 plants and where, by summer irrigation to maintain 

 this continuous activity of the plants, it is possible to 

 gather fruit every month in the year. This fact is not, '■ 

 however, made of much commercial account, nor is it 

 widely true that one can have Strawberries all the year 

 round in the open air. It is true, however, that even on 

 the lowlands, where the commercial crops are chiefly 

 grown, the winter is so mild that Strawberries begin to 

 ripen in shipping quantities as early as March and by 

 proper cultivation and irrigation the fruiting is con- 

 tinued until late in the autumn, and the grower has 

 therefore a very short closed season. The trying condi- 

 tion for the Strawberry is found in the long, dry sum- 

 mer, which enforces dormancy as early as June on light 

 loams in the more arid localities of the interior. Such soils 

 become dry and hot to a depth of several inches in spite 

 of surface cultivation and cause the dwindling and death 

 of a shallow-rooting plant like the Strawberry, unless 

 frequent irrigation is begun in time. This trouble is 

 less acute on more retentive soils in regions of lower 

 summer temperature and greater rainfall, and plants in 

 such situations may survive the summer dormancy, but 

 it is true that everywhere in California and even in the 

 more humid states on the north that Strawberry-grow- 

 ing without irrigation results either in failure or only 

 partial satisfaction and the venture is seldom to be 

 commended. It is, however, so easy, usually, to secure 

 the small amount of water necessary for home produc- 

 tion, and the plant when fairly treated is so highly pro- 

 ductive, that a general exhortation to Strawberry-grow- 

 ing on an irrigation basis is fully warranted. 



tinued popularity of Longwortu Prolific, Sharpless, 

 Monarch of the West, Wilson Albany, etc. Long- 

 worth has survived more than thirty years' continued 

 growing. Other popular varieties are Melinda, Jessie, 

 Triomphede Gand, Brandy wine. Marshall, Lady Thomp- 

 son, etc. An English variety, Laxton Noble, has been 

 largely planted in southern California but not always 







i 5 -A-« a --W&' 



2428. A prolific 



There are several species of Strawberries indigenous 

 to California, and they are of both littoral and alpine 

 types. Some interest has been shown in development 

 of cultural varieties from these sources, hut no com- 

 mercial significance has as yet attached to them. The 

 varieties chiefly grown are different from those popular 

 at the East. New varieties from the eastern states and 

 from Europe are freely tried, but few are successful and 

 they retain local popularity after abandonment in their 

 birthplaces. A striking instance of this fact is the con- 



2429. Strawberry field in Wisconsin. 



successfully, though it does well near the coast. The 

 Arizona Everbearing is par excellence drought- and 

 heat-resistant and is constantly increasing its area in 

 interior situations. It has endured neglect which has 

 actually compassed the death of other varieties. The 

 Australian Crimson is a popular market variety in 

 southern California, of which the first plants came from 

 the southern hemisphere, but it has some appearances 

 of being a re-named American variety. 



The growth of Strawberries is almost wholly in 

 matted rows, the rows tisually occupying low ridges only 

 sufficiently elevated to allow the slightly depressed in- 

 tervals to serve as irrigation ditches and as walks dur- 

 ing picking. The slight elevation of the plants also 

 assists in surface drainage, when heavy rains fall during 

 the early part of the fruiting season, and this promotes 

 early growth and fruiting of the plants. Where the soil 

 is too coarse to permit free rise of water from the de- 

 pressed ditches the conditions are reversed and low 

 levees are made to inclose blocks of plants which are 

 irrigated by flooding the inclosures. In the chief com- 

 mercial regions a fine loam is used and irrigation from 

 the small ditches on both sides of the ridges, which are 

 about 2 feet wide, is the ruling method. 

 Nearly level land is selected and grading 

 is done before planting to reduce dry 

 knolls and fill low places so that the 

 water will flow slowly and will evenly 

 moisten the whole field. Subirrigation by 

 tile has been often advocated but never 

 has been employed to any extent. 



One of the chief Strawberry-shipping 

 districts in central California is charac- 

 terized by a shallow loam underlaid by an 

 impervious indurated clay or hard pan, 

 which prevents the percolation of the ir- 

 rigation water and enables growers to 

 maintain a large acreage by means of the 

 small water supply secured by windmills. 

 In this case water is applied very fre- 

 quently, even oftener than once a week 

 in some cases, but the total amount for 

 the season is small. Quite in contrast 

 to this is the growth on light, deep loams 

 where water sinks so rapidly that the 

 mulch. plants suffer, although water is almost con- 



stantly running in the ditches. In such 

 cases mulching and sprinkling are the price of success, 

 and these are too costly except on a small scale for home 

 supply. The largest producing districts have soils mid- 

 way between the extremes above noted; viz., deep, re- 

 tentive loams, situated rather low in the valleys and 

 with irrigation available either by ditch system or by 

 wells both flowing and pumped. The pump wells re- 

 quire usually only a short lift, and abundant water is 

 secured cheaply by the use of modern pumps and 

 motors. 



