276 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



bearing would be more in clanger of dry weather than those that 

 yield their crop in a short time, but such does not appear to be the fact. 

 It is commonly remarked by growers that when the strawberry 

 season is long the crop is greater than when the time of ripening ex- 

 tends over a short period. To cut off two or three pickings is to re- 

 duce the crop by about that quantity. The same is essentially true of 

 varieties. A variety that gives three pickings during the season will 

 yield about half the crop of one that gives six. This ratio may not 

 be exact, but such a relation between the number of pickings, or 

 length of season and total product exists. All things considered, the 

 long season varieties are surer and more profitable than those that 

 continue but a short time in bearing. 



Nearly all of the very early varieties continue but a short time in 

 bearing, yield but few pickings, and give short crops. The same is 

 true, in a more marked degree, of the extreme late sorts. They com- 

 mence to ripen late but hold out little, if any longer than the medium 

 varieties. The second early, or medium varieties usually give more 

 pickings during the season, continue longer in bearing than the ex- 

 treme early and late sorts, hence give a greater total yield. 



Those varieties of strawberries that produce pollen and berries also, 

 are at a disadvantage as compared with those that produce berries 

 only. Division of labor counts here as elsewhere. Give a plant 

 nothing to do but to grow and bear fruit and the work will be better 

 done than if an additional task is imposed. To produce pollen taxes 

 the energies of the plant more than is commonly supposed. Many 

 growers think it would be desirable to have varieties with perfect 

 blossoms only to save the trouble of planting the two classes. Theory 

 disproves this plan, and careful observations show that, in general, 

 the most prolific sorts are those that have imperfect flowers. 



It should be understood that these statements refer to the leading 

 varieties that are most generally grown. There are some apparent 

 exceptions even with these, and still more if all known varieties are 

 included. Concerning the varieties that are worth considering, the 

 general statements made above will hold good. These generalizations 

 are not only useful in determining the value of varieties in a com- 

 paratively short time, but may also serve as guides in future work. 

 Much valuable time has been lost because these principles have been 

 ignored. 



