1742 



STRAWBERRY 



seems to be more certainty in growing Strawberries un- 

 der sucli conditions than in regions where the crop must 

 depend upon rainfall. Some varieties that are usually 

 a failure because of their deficient root-system, such as 

 Jucunda, are thus enabled to flourish to such a degree 

 as to be among the most profitable. Whatever may be 

 said of other parts of the continent of North America, 

 it is an indisputable fact that the Plains region is very 

 good for Strawberries. Good judgment m the selection 

 of proper locations and the right varieties thorough 

 preparation of the soil and good culture will be abun 

 dantly rewarded. h. E. Vam Deman 



The Strawberry on the Pacific Coast - Califomn 

 conditions include both those most favorable and 

 most trying for the growth of Strawbenies There 

 are situations where, through local topography and 

 proximity to the ocean, winter temperatures vre verj 

 seldom too low for the growth and fruiting of the 

 plants and where, by summer irrigation to miintain 

 this continuous activity of the plants, it is pc ible to 

 gather fruit every month in the year. This fact i not 

 however, made of much commercial account nor is it 

 ■widely true that one can have Strawberries all the j ear 

 round in the open air. It is true, however that even on 

 the lowlands, where the commercial crops are chieHj 

 grown, the winter is so mild that Strawberries begin to 

 ripen in shipping quantities as early as March and b> 

 proper cultivation and irrigation the fruiting is con- 

 tinued until late in the autumn, and the grower has 

 therefore a very short closed season. The trying condi- 

 tion for the Strawberry is found in the long, dry sum- 

 mer, which enforces dormancy as early as June on light 

 loams in the more arid localities of the interior. Such soils 

 become dry and hot to a depth of several inches in spite 

 of surface cultivation and cause the dwindling and death 

 of a shallow-rooting plant like the Stra-.7berry, unless 

 frequent irrigation is begun in time. This trouble is 

 less acute on more retentive soils in regions of lower 

 summer temperature and greater rainfall, and plants in 

 such situations may survive the summer dormancy, but 

 it is true that everywhere in California and even in the 

 more humid states on the north that Strawberry-grow- 

 ing without irrigation results either in failure or only 

 partial satisfaction and the venture is seldom to be 

 commended. It is, however, so easy, usually, to secure 

 the small amount of water necessary for home produc- 

 tion, and the plant when fairly treated is so highly pro- 

 ductive, that a general exhortation to Strawberry-grow- 

 ing on an irrigation basis is fully warranted. 



STRAWBERRY 



tinued popularity of Loiiq-n mtli Piohfic, Sharpless, 

 Monarch of the West A\ i' ii \M in etc. Long- 

 worth has survived mon i us' continued 

 growing. Other popul u \l Imda, Jessie, 

 Triomphe de Gand, Bran 1 i Lady Thomp- 

 son, etc. An English -v iii i J t i Nolile, has been 

 largely planted in southiin Cihtoniia but not always 





2429 Stra Arberry field 



Wl: 



successfully though it does well neir the C( a t The 

 Arizona Everbearing is par excellence drought- and 

 heat-resistant and is constantly increasing its area in 

 interior situations. It has endured neglect which has 

 actually compassed the death of other varieties. The 

 Australian Crimscn is a ]i..|.ular market variety in 

 southern Califonii:!. i.t \',l,jrli ih.- tirst plants came from 

 the southern htiiii-ilii i . , Imi it lias some appearances 



The growth of .Sira\vlii-nn-s is almost wholly in 

 matted rows, the rows usuajly occupying low ridges only 

 sufliciently elevated to allow the slightly depressed in- 

 tervals to serve as irrigation ditches and as walks dur- 

 ing picking. The slight elevation of the plants also 

 assists in surface drainage when heaij reinstall during 

 early pirt of the fruiting season md this promotes 



pressed ditches the conditions are ie\eised ind low 

 levees ire niide to inclose bkcks of plints which are 

 irrigated by flooding the inclo 

 mercial legions i 1 i 1 *im i 

 the small ditch I I \ 



m i^ '\ 



2428. A prolific ) 



' of Strawberries, the fruit i 



OE on a mulch 



jf Strawberries indigenous 



"f 1m, ill liitoral and alpine 



■ II in development 



There are several speci< 

 to California, and thi v ,, 

 types. Some intercsl I 

 of cultural varieties ti - 

 mercial significance lia- i- wi ^imimIi.cI to them. The 

 varieties chiefly grown aru tiiili itiii from those popular 

 at the East. New varieties from the eastern states and 

 from Europe are freely tried, but few are successful and 

 they retain local popularity after abandonment in their 

 birthplaces. A striking instance of this fact is the con- 



In the ( 

 . and irrigition from 

 he iidges which are 

 the ruling method, 

 fleeted and grading 

 tiTicr to reduce dry 

 1 I so that the 



I I will evenly 



1 I ligation by 

 1 but never 



( )i f tl 1 1 t ^ti \leir-\ shipping 

 districts in central C ilifornia is charac- 

 terized by a shallow loam undeilaid by an 

 impervious indurated clay or hard pan, 

 which prevents the percolation of the ir- 

 rigation water and enables growers to 

 maintain a large acreage by means of the 

 small water supply secured by windmills. 

 In this case water is applied very fre- 

 quently, even oftener than once a week 

 in some cases, but the total amount for 

 the season is small. Quite in contrast 

 to this is the growth on light, deep loams 

 where water sinks so rapidly that the 

 plants suffer, although water is almost con- 

 stantly running in the ditches. In such 

 eases mulching and sprinkling are the price of success, 

 and these are too costly except on a small scale for home 

 supply. The largest producing districts have soils mid- 

 way between the extremes above noted: viz., deep, re- 

 tentive loams, situated rather low in the valleys and 

 with irrigation available either by ditch system or by 

 wells both flowing and pumped. The pump wells re- 

 quire usually only a short lift, and abundant water is 

 secured cheaply by the use of modem pumps and 

 motors. 



