56 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



are lacking in flavor. The Marshall is a poor plant maker, is not 

 Tery productive, as a rule, is tender, and the Wm. Belt, at least 

 with us, is not sufficiently productive. There are, of course, a 

 few other varieties as good in quality perhaps, as these but they are 

 lacking in something. In parts of America where the climate is 

 hot and dry deeper rooted sorts are needed that will withstand 

 such conditions. In parts where the climate is wet, firm sorts of 

 good quality are desired that will withstand heavy rains. In places 

 where there is little snow in winter but great cold, varieties are 

 needed that will withstand extreme cold. Where the fruiting 

 season is often dry, moderate plant makers are desirable as most 

 of the heavy plant makers seem to suffer most in dry weather. 



Certain varieties at present on the market are known to succeed 

 better in some places than others. The Magoon, which is so 

 popular in the Western States, does not do particularly well in the 

 East. The Senator Dunlap has, perhaps, as wide an adaptation 

 as any variety, but it is a heavy plant maker and does best, at 

 least in Canada, where the season is relatively moist. There are a 

 number of persons breeding strawberries for special conditions. 

 Several private individuals have developed some good sorts. The 

 New York Agricultural Experiment Station has originated some. 

 Mr. Georgesson of the Alaska Station has for a number of years 

 been breeding strawberries especially suited for the North-west 

 Coast by crossing the native species with the cultivated varieties 

 and some good sorts have been obtained especially suited for the 

 conditions there. Great development has taken place in the 

 autumn bearing strawberries largely through the work of one man, 

 the Progressive variety being a great advance on the Pan American, 

 for instance. At Ottawa we are crossing the cultivated sorts with 

 the wild strawberry obtained from different parts of Canada in the 

 hope of getting varieties especially suited for our conditions. 

 Seedlings from the cultivated sorts alone have not given us just 

 what is desired. The ideal variety of strawberry for each particu- 

 lar soil and climate should be somewhat as follows : 



Perfect. Plant hardy, very productive, vigorous, making a 

 moderate number of runners; must withstand drought well. 

 Foliage large, abundant, rust resistant. Flowers borne on stiff 

 stalks of sufficient length to keep the fruit well off the ground. 



