CHAPTER XXV 

 VARIETIES OF STRAWBERRIES 



The strawberry has been under cultivation 

 in America but a short time, the commercial 

 industry having begun with the introduction 

 of the Wilson in 1854, but progress in im- 

 proving varieties has been so rapid that the 

 number of sorts introduced in America ex- 

 ceeds 2000. Comparatively few of these are 

 now under cultivation, for the list of varieties 

 changes every ten or fifteen years. In 1920, 

 nearly 300 varieties were listed for the United 

 States and Canada. In every part of the 

 continent in which diversified agriculture is 

 practiced, strawberries are grown; no other 

 fruit is more widely distributed. The growing 

 of strawberries is a great commercial industry 

 of the country, and each region in which fruit- 

 growers specialize in this fruit has a list of 

 varieties suited to its needs. In this chapter, 

 a special effort is made to give the adaptations 

 of varieties to these regions of commercial 

 cultivation. The strawberry is the most pop- 

 ular fruit for home fruit-gardens, and to fulfill 

 its potentialities for the garden the grower can 

 choose a great assortment of the kinds de- 

 scribed. 



ABINGTON. The variety is worthy of 

 trial for its productive vines and handsome 

 fruits, which retain their size well through- 

 out the season. The foliage is reported to be 

 susceptible to leaf-spot. It was introduced 

 by L. Blanchard, Abington, Massachusetts, in 

 1905. It is much grown about Boston. 



Perfect. Plants many, vigorous, very productive ; 

 leaf large, dark green ; leaf-stems long ; fruit-stems 

 long, thick, usually double, erect ; blooms medium 

 early ; calyx of medium size, flat or often on a short 

 neck, sometimes slightly discolored. Fruit large, mid- 

 season, easily picked ; wedge to round-conic or some- 

 times slightly elongated, attractive light scarlet ; flesh 

 light colored, firm, mildly acid, fair to good in quality ; 

 seeds sunken. 



AMANDA. Amanda is recommended for 

 trial, both for home and commercial purposes. 

 The plants are vigorous and productive, and 

 produce runners in great numbers, but are 

 somewhat susceptible to leaf-spot under un- 

 favorable conditions. The blossoms are per- 

 fect and open in midseason or later. The ber- 

 ries ripen in midseason; are large, and hold 

 up remarkably well throughout the ripening 

 season; in color, they vary from light to dark 

 scarlet, depending on the stage of maturity, 

 and are always glossy and attractive; in shape, 

 the berries are blunt-wedge, although round- 

 conic forms may be found among them. The 

 flesh is firm enough to stand distant ship- 

 ments, and its color is good to the very center. 

 There is enough acidity of flavor to give 

 eprightliness, which, combined with other 



characters, makes the variety rank high in 

 quality. This variety was originated by Z. T. 

 Mumma, Blufftown, Ohio, in 1904. 



Perfect. Plants very numerous, vigorous, somewhat 



CICUL, ca^A ui nif mum size, sometimes somewnat dis- 

 colored, sunken or flattened. Fruit midseason ; large, 

 retains its size well to the close of the ripening period, 



AMERICUS. This is a rather remarkable 

 everbearing strawberry in that the runner 

 plants often begin to bear as soon as they 

 start root. The plants yield a fair crop in 

 June, and, if conditions are favorable, continue 

 to bear until November. The quality of the 

 berries is excellent. The variety is liked for 

 hill culture in home-gardens. It originated 

 in 1905 with Harlow Rockhill of Iowa and 

 was introduced in 1912. 



Perfect. Plants hardy, vigorous, deep-rooted ; leaves 

 rather few, exposing the berries somewhat ; fruit-stems 

 long ; runners rather few. Fruits medium to large, 

 firm, light red often with a green tip ; flesh light 

 red, mild subacid, large, aromatic ; quality the best 

 of any everbearer. 



ARIZONA. Arizona Everbearing. Mex- 

 ican Everbearing. Arizona is a comparatively 

 old sort which was long the leading variety 

 in the Pacific Southwest, where resistance to 

 heat and drought is important. It is still 

 grown to some extent in Arizona and south- 

 ern California. The variety was introduced 

 about 1890. Improved Arizona is identical 

 with Arizona. 



Perfect. Plants vigorous, healthy, make but few 

 runners. Fruits midseason, of medium size, globose- 

 conic ; light red in color with light red, soft flesh ; 

 mild subacid ; quality good. 



AROMA. Cycloma. A commercial variety 

 in the Middle West from Missouri and Ken- 

 tucky to Wisconsin and Michigan, Aroma is 

 also grown in Ohio, in West Virginia, and as 

 far east as Delaware. The plants are resistant 

 to disease, very productive; and are adapted 

 to a variety of soils, although they prefer 

 clay and silt loams. The berries keep and 

 ship well, are attractive in appearance and 

 of high dessert quality. Aroma originated with 

 E. W. Cruse, Leavenworth, Kansas, about 

 1889. 



Perfect. Plants vigorous, healthy ; make runners 

 freely ; calyx medium, adherent. Fruit midseason to 

 late, large, globose-conic or short wedge-shaped, firm ; 

 bright crimson with light red flesh ; mild subacid, 

 core white, solid ; quality good ; seeds prominent. 



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