8 University of New Hampshire [Sta. Bull. 321 



Strawberry Production in New Hampshire 



CTRAWBERRIES ARE a "best seller." Even though southern 

 *^ berries do come into our markets as much as five months in ad- 

 vance of our season, consumers still appreciate good native berries. 

 This is indicated by a substantial premium for our first berries over 

 stocks which have been shipped in. Average gross returns per acre 

 are the highest for strawberries of any berries grown in Xcw 

 Ham]ishire. 



Census facts on strawberries 



Census reports on strawberries give us some data not obtainable 

 elsewhere. However, many garden ])lots are not included in census 

 reports. 



The 1934 re])orts show that Hillsboro. Rockingham, and Merri- 

 mack counties jiroduced about S7 per cent of the state's total, while 

 Coos and Carroll counties produced less than 7 per cent of the total. 

 Almost 1100 farms reported raising some strawberries but the ave- 

 rage acreage per farm was only slightly more than one-quarter acre. 



Total acreage for the state has shown a downward trend, but 

 acreage per farm has shown an u]iward trend over the last four 

 census periods of 1909-1934. \'alue per acre has ranged between 

 $221 and $409 and averaged al)out $300. .Average value ])er farm has 

 remained under $100. 



See api)endix (Tabic i) lor census data for the ])ast five census 

 periods. 1899-1934. 



Strawberry Varieties 



Varieties grown in New Hampshire 



During the past five years. 1935-1939. an average of over three- 

 fourths of the strawberry growers planted the variety Howard 17. 

 and over half the acreage has been of this one variety. No other 

 variety has accounted for over 8 per cent of the acreage in any vear. 

 Catskill is the only other coniniercial xaricty that has recentlv ac- 

 counted for any appreciable part of the acreage. .S(^me of the other 

 varieties grown are Dorsett. Fairfa.x. .\berdecn. and the everbcarers. 

 Gem, Mastodon, and Wayzata. 



For acreage planted, and per cent of ])roducers growing each vari- 

 ety according to grower reports, see appendix (Ta14c \'.) 



Fairfax strawberries given high rating 



Fifty i)ersons were given samjiles of Howard 17. l<'airfax, and 

 Dorsett strawberries. The samplers then rated the berries in order 

 of preference as follows: 



Fairfax 



Dorsett 

 Howard 17 



Sixty-four per cent said they would pay a iiremium of at least 

 two cents a (|uart for their first selection over the thir<l choice, if 

 necessarv. 



