CHAPTER XV 

 SMALL-FRUITS AND THE GRAPE 



IN every locality and in nearly all gardens, some kinds of 

 small-fruits may be grown successfully. Whether straw- 

 berries, raspberries, blackberries, loganberries, dewberries, 

 currants, or gooseberries are raised, the yield to the square 

 rod, under favorable conditions, is astonishingly large. 



THE STRAWBERRY 



298. Origin and adaptation. The origin of the strawberry 

 has not been traced, but there are records of its cultivation in 

 England in 1483, and of the appearance of improved sorts in 

 the eighteenth century. About 2000 varieties of cultivated 

 strawberries have been developed in North America. The 

 improved American kinds have been introduced into 

 Europe. 



Since the strawberry is adapted to a wide range of climate, 

 it is grown for home use and local market in nearly every 

 region in the United States and Canada. The principal areas 

 of commercial production are near the large cities of the 

 northern states, along the Atlantic Coast, in the Mississippi 

 Valley, and in parts of the Pacific states. 



299. Soils. The strawberry requires an abundant supply 

 of water and a climate which is not too hot nor dry. When 

 these conditions are present, it will grow on many types of 

 soils, although a rich loam is most favorable. Heavy manur- 

 ing is usually desirable. As the strawberry plant is a shallow 

 feeder, it can be grown on soils underlaid with hardpan if the 

 drainage is satisfactory. 



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