CHAPTER L 



STRAWBERRIES. 



^jTtHE strawberry is the most important of the small fruits. It is 

 (^ found growing from the far north to the hot south, and across 

 the Continent. There is not a state in this country but has its wild 

 strawberries. There are large sections of Minnesota where the 

 strawberry produces as heavily as it does anywhere when given 

 good cultivation, and there is not a county in the state wiiere it 

 cannot be made to yield abundantly. It is easily grown, stands 

 transportation moderately well, and is almost universally admired. 



Species.— There are three species of the strawberry common- 

 ly met with in cultivation : — 



(1) Fragaria Virginiana, which forms entirely or enters largely 

 into the parentage of the varieties that have become widely known 

 and esteemed on account of their hardiness and reliability. 



(2) Fragaria grandijlora, the South American strawberry, is 

 grown much more extensively in eastern Europe than in this coun- 

 try. This variety readily hybridizes with the F. Virginiana, but in 

 a pure state is not suflBciently hardy to withstand successfully our 

 hot summers and cold winters. It has very handsome, large fruit, 

 but it has not the sprightly quality of our native berry. 



(3) Fragaria vesca, called the Alpine or wood strawberry, is a 

 native of Europe and of the northern parts of this country and 

 Canada. From this have come the ever-bearing varieties whose 

 praises are so often talked of. It will not hybridize with either of 

 the two kinds previously mentioned. This species is not sufficient- 

 ly productive to warrant its being largely cultivated. The ever- 

 bearing or perpetual varieties are not desirable. They produce a 

 few berries all through the season, but do not produce enough at 

 any one time to make their cultivation an object of importance. 

 Practically, then, this species is of little account. 



Propagation.— The strawberry is increased by seed, runners 

 and plant divisions. The plants do not "come true" from seed, but 

 seedlings vary very much in their value for cultivation. Probably 

 5 



