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Strawberry-Orowing 



to which he clings once were novelties. All must be 

 tested to find the few that are worthy. The rapidity 

 with which Klondike supplanted Thompson, Excelsior 

 and other varieties in the South shows how quickly a 

 really meritorious sort secures recognition. It is not 

 necessary for the individual fruit-grower to test all the 

 novelties; this would be as foolish as not to test any. 



Some men fail because they 

 cling to the old sorts long after 

 these are outclassed by more 

 recent introductions. 



It is recognized now that the 

 adaptation of varieties is a local 

 and personal problem. We no 

 longer quarrel with our neighbor 

 because he is of the opinion that 

 Chesapeake is a better variety 

 than Dunlap. 



The attitude of the grower 

 toward novelties should be one 

 of conservatism. He should 

 cling to the standard sorts until 

 new ones have demonstrated 

 their superiority, as grown on his own farm. By means of 

 trade catalogues, horticultural society proceedings, experi- 

 ment station bulletins and conferences with neighbors, he 

 can keep posted on the newer varieties. A few of those 

 that might be useful for his conditions should be grown 

 in a small way. He should have a small trial plot; it 

 costs little and may be worth much. A dozen plants of 

 a variety are sufficient to give a fair idea of its general 

 appearance and behavior. If it seems promising, after 

 two years in the trial bed, a small commercial area may 



Fio. 23. — Matthew Craw- 

 ford, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; 

 for nearly fifty years the fore- 

 moat American propagator of 

 the strawberry and one who has 

 urged and practiced conserva- 

 tism in describing novelties. 



