Division of Horticulture. 



SAMUEL T. MAYNARD. 



Tests of Small Fkuits, 1894. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



The plants in the experiment plots and also in the field came 

 through the winter with little injury. A light covering of coarse 

 stable manure was spread over the plants just before the ground 

 became frozen, and later, alternate sections were mulched with straw. 

 All came through about equally well. 



The warm weather of March and early April started the plants 

 into an early growth, but subsequent cold weather and the dry condi- 

 tion of the soil kept them back so that they did not bloom as much 

 in advance of the average season as was feared. The drouth early 

 in June threatened destruction to the crop, but rains soon after 

 enabled the fruit to mature in good condition. 



In some places late frosts cut off some of the early blossoms, but 

 those uninjured came on in good time, and the crop was better in 

 size and quality for this thiruiing. 



In the immediate vicinity of the college a severe hail storm 

 occurred on the 5th of June, which cut the foliage badly and reduced 

 measurably its power to mature the crop. 



The first picking was made one w^eek or ten days in advance of 

 the season of 1893. All the varieties were planted on the same kind 

 of soil and were carefull}' treated in the same way in regard to fer- 

 tilizer and cultivation. The fruit was picked every day, or every 

 other day, and carefully weighed, the weight being given in the fol- 

 lowing table. This table also shows by figures or letters the size, 

 color, form, quality, firmness, sex, vigor, amount of winterkilling 

 and date of first and last picking of each variety. 



Explanation of Table. Size; 1 large, m medium, s smaU. 

 Color; 1 light, m medium, d dark. 



Form; r round, c conical, r c round conical, ir irregular, c f 

 coxcomb form. 



Quality; g good, v g very good, m medium, p poor. 

 Sex; 3 staminate, p pistillate. 



