PREFACE 



The strawberry is distinctively North American. 

 Most modem varieties sprang from species found only in 

 the Americas. Progress in the domestication of this fruit 

 was coincident with the introduction into Europe of 

 American types. The acreage under commercial culture 

 in the United States and Canada has grown from 1400 

 acres in 1854 to 150,000 acres in 1910. This is more 

 than the combined acreage of all other countries. 



This book aims to reflect modern commercial practice 

 in North America. A history of the rise of strawberry- 

 growing, together with a discussion of the origin, botany 

 and breeding of the North American type, are presented 

 in a companion volume, "The Strawberry in North 

 America." All of the more than 1800 varieties that have 

 originated in North America are described in Technical 

 Bulletin 11, Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, 

 Blacksburg, Virginia : " North American Varieties of the 

 Strawberry." 



I have freely incorporated the experience of others, as 

 is noted in the text. I am under especial obligation to 

 Matthew Crawford, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and to the 

 Editor of the Rural Science Series. A number of the 

 illustrations are borrowed, for which acknowledgment is 

 made in the List of Illustrations. 



S. W. FLETCHER. 

 State College, Pa., 

 January 29, 1917. 



