Special Methods of Culture 263 



fly screening may be laid under the trusses (Plate XXII). 

 Forced berries are marketed in pint or quart boxes, which 

 are lined with cotton wool, and each berry is wrapped in 

 a strawberry leaf. Both berries and leaves should be 

 dry. The plants are forced but once and then are thrown 

 away. 



Forcing varieties. 



A good forcing variety should be vigorous, have clean 

 foliage, produce an abundance of pollen, have long, stiff 

 fruit-stalks and bear large glossy, dark crimson berries 

 of high quality. The English forcing varieties are not 

 successful here. Among the best varieties for forcing 

 are Marshall, Glen Mary, Nich Ohmer, Brandywine and 

 President, especially the first two. The early blossoms 

 of Glen Mary frequently are without stamens and must 

 be pollinated with another variety. The President is 

 pistillate, but is an excellent forcing variety in other 

 respects. It is best to grow three or four varieties so as 

 to be sure of an abundant supply of pollen. 



These are the methods that professional greenhouse 

 gardeners consider essential to success. For home use, 

 fairly good forced strawberries may be secured simply 

 by lifting strong plants, with a large ball of soil, from the 

 open field in January, and bringing them into heat gradu- 

 ally. 



GROWING FANCY AND EXHIBITION BERRIES 



Strawberry exhibitions are not as common now as they 

 were fifty years ago, but the growing of fancy and exhibition 

 berries still is a source of pride to amateur and professional 

 alike. Some growers have been very successful in this 



