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The Stkawberry Crop. 



[Oct., 



THE STRAWBERRY CROP, 1921. 



Isaac Walton, " The Compleat Angler," is accredited with 

 saying of the Strawberry, " Doubtless God could have made a 

 better berry but doubtless God did not." The lapse of years, 

 the introduction from abroad of new and strange " Fruits of 

 the earth," the phenomenal development of new varieties of 

 fruit indigenous or acclimatised here, together have failed to 

 dethrone the strawberry, in her season, from the regnant place 

 in public favour implied in Isaac Walton's apostrophe. 



The term " strawberries and cream " to many denotes the 

 peak of attractive deliciousness during the short period of six 

 weeks or so when the strawbeiTv, crowding the markets, mono- 

 polises the attention of fruit sellers and buyers, and impresses 

 the very atmosphere of the markets with its characteristic odour. 



It is traditional that the public gives little consideration to links 

 in the chain of production, transport, and distribution, along 

 which travels the produce purchased at store or barrow. It 

 grumbles at price, waxes sarcastic at the expense of the grower, 

 or somebody else, when fruit is presented to it improperly packed, 

 or in a damaged condition ; but it has not the time nor the means 

 to probe the matter through its successive sequences and find 

 an answer to the " Why?." 



It is time the public should be better informed, in order 

 that it may be better served, for the dynamic force of public 

 opinion is needed to help those who are striving to replace 

 antiquities that are wasteful as well as obstructive, by methods 

 of organisation sane, sanitary, and saving. 



Most of the strawberries marketed in this country are raised 

 in districts where the soil, climate and environment are suitable 

 for the proper cultivation of the plants. 



Kent, Wisbech Area, South Hants, Tamar Valley, Cheddar 

 Valley, Middlesex, Surrey and Essex are the principal growing 

 districts, and growers in each area take great pride in their local 

 products, each considering their own to possess a better flavour 

 than fruit produced in other parts. So does human nature help 

 to bias judgment. 



Most of the men engaged in this industry are the small-holders 

 and ex- Service settlers on the land who on a few acres have 

 settled down in earnest to secure an honest living by hard work 

 and long hours in planting and caring for the strawberry plant. 

 Much care is needed if the fruit is to be grown to perfection 

 rnd commercial success achieved. Before planting the soil has 



