RENAMING OF STRAWBERRY VARIETIES 



A recent report from the U. S. D. A. Plant Industry Station, Beltsville, 

 Maryland (in Fruit Varieties and Horticultural Digest of the American Pomological 

 Society) gives the following list of common strawberry varieties from which in 

 their tests certain rather new introductions from nurserymen are indistinguishable, 



Armore indistinguishable from Red Cluster 



Ounlap 



Fairfax 



Gem 



Howard 17 



Midland 



Robinson 



Sparkle 



Parish 



Grandview, Cummerbund 



Superfection, Brilliant 



Polor Queen, Golden Bell 



Crimson Flash, Adonis 



Scarlet Beauty, Kardlnal King 



Paymaster 



Our variety trials in Massachusetts agree with their findings on Gem, 

 Robinson and Sparkle and we expect to have two other of these comparisons 

 fruiting this year. 



A. P. French 



I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 



"PICK YOUR OWN METHOD" OF SELLING SMALL FRUITS 



The "Pick Your Own" method of harvesting small fruits appears to be gaining 

 popularity in Massachusetts. In many iiistances growers were forced to use this 

 method when it became impossible to obtain pickers. After trying the "Pick Your 

 Own Method" of selling, however, the majority of these growers agree with James 

 Cesan of West Feeding Hills who states, "I would never go back to the old method. 

 I sincerely can say that I am all for 'bring baskets and pick your own strawberries' 

 Try it!" 



Some growers are reluctant about letting the public pick the fruit for fear 

 they will trample many berries. Walter Mores of Bradford states "the public is 

 no harder on our picking beds than a crowd of our own hired pickers. In fact, 

 I think they are better as most people come to pick and not to fool around." 



James Cesan formerly hired women and children to harvest about eight acres 

 of strawberries. The headaches were many with such things as frequent fights, 

 berry throwing, messy berries, baskets half full and straw in the bottom of 

 the baskets. 



What about honesty on the part of the public? Growers have found the major- 

 ity of the people honest and that with supervision trouble can be avoided. 

 Richard Sanford of Westfield requires: (a) baskets paid for when purchased; (b) 

 no berries paid for before picking and (c) berries paid for before being put 

 Into the car. Mr. Sanford states that this eliminates all bookkeeping and 

 arguments concerning what has been paid for. 



A problem cited by several growers is that some people try to get a box and 

 a half of berries in a box. One grower has stated that he feels it might, with 



