Tune, 1940] Markets for New Hampshire Berries 9 



Premiums for Fairfax have been noted in local markets and grow- 

 ers have in some cases obtained from two to five cents a quart more 

 than for such varieties as Howard 17. But it does not appear that 

 premiums are sufficiently large to compensate for the deficiency in 

 yields of the two higher cjuaHty varieties. 



Keeping quality of strawberries 



There is considerable variation in the keeping quality of different 

 strawberry varieties as wxll as of different lots of the same vari- 

 ety from different sources. 



More comprehensive tests are needed to make specific compari- 

 sons on a number of varieties, but tests and observations made to 

 date support the following general conclusions on some of the more 

 commonly grown varieties. 



Catskill appears to be somewhat better in keeping quality than 

 Howard 17. Fairfax keeps fairly well, but turns an undesirable 

 dark color as it ages. Neither Howard 17 nor Aberdeen rank high 

 in keeping quality. The everbearer, Wayzata, keeps better than 

 either Gem or Mastodon, and is outstanding in maintaining its 

 bright appearance. 



Returns for Strawberries 



Strawberry yields and returns 



Persons growing strawberries for sale are interested in returns 

 from them and these depend on prices and yields. Such varieties as 

 Fairfax and Dorsett sell well in the markets, and sometimes bring a 

 premium, but returns from them average smaller than from Howard 

 17 and Catskill, because their average yields are lower. 



If we base returns on the average jobbing prices received for ber- 

 ries over the past five years and on the crops harvested as reported 

 by growers we would have this approximate comparison. 



Table III. — Average returns per acre for strawberries as reported by New Hamp- 

 shire growers, 1936-1939 



Variety 1936 1937 1938 1939 4 year av.* 



Howard 17 



Mixed and others 

 All 



*SimpIe average of the four years. 



Note: Returns appear abnormally high for 1936. Prices were quite high in that year and the 

 difference in returns between 1936 and 1939 was almost entirely due to price. 



Comparative yields and returns 



The 1934 census figures give us comparisons of yields and returns 

 from strawberries in New Hampshire as compared with other sec- 

 tions of New England and the United States. 



Yields were smaller than in surrounding states, but prices ave- 

 raged higher. Returns per acre were lower than for New England 

 but were more than double those for the United States. 



