June, 1940] Markets for New Hampshire Berries 



QUARTS 



11 



320 - 



240 » 



160 - 



1 





IS 



20 



24 



JUNE 



JWUY 



Fig. 2. Sales of three varieties of strawberries raised by a grower who 

 attempted to increase supplies for a late market. 



(Note: Aberdeen variety adjusted to basis of equal plantings of other two vari- 

 eties, Howard 17 and Brandywinc). 



Length of strawberry marketing season 



The length of the strawberry season varies g-reatly from year to 

 year. Records of a Sullivan county grower* kept over thirty sea- 

 sons showed : 



5 seasons were 15-21 days long 



5 seasons were 22-28 days long 



11 seasons were 29-35 days long 



9 seasons were 36-42 days long 



Growers have attempted to lengthen the season by selection of 

 early and late varieties. Everbearing varieties in conjunction with 

 regular varieties are occasionally used to lengthen the season con- 

 siderably. The average grower has not found a very satisfactory 

 method of prolonging the season much over a week with standard 

 varieties. The late varieties often give him more late berries for 

 sale, but his costs may also be higher, for his total yields may have 

 been lower than with a standard early commercial variety such as 

 Howard 17. 



A few growers have endeavored to take advantage of higher 

 prices in a late market by extending their season through a combi- 

 nation of varieties accompanied by certain production practices. A 

 good illustration of the results of such a program is shown in Fig. 2. 



*Mrs. G. E. Gay of Charlestown has kept a remarkable set of records covering 32 seasons in 

 the 1900-1939 period and has very kindly allowed the writer to use them. Mrs. Gay and her 

 son have another excellent strawberry patch for the 1940 season. Further reference is made 

 to these records in other sections of tliis bulletin. 



