DORS6TT 



CLAIMED 

 BY MANY 

 GROWERS 

 AS T H E 

 GREATEST 

 OF EARLY 

 VARIETIES 



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Originated by the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture from a cross of Premier (Howard 17, i and 

 Royal Sovereign and introduced in 1933. Dorsett is now one of the leading early berries. This 

 wide popularity is richly deserved, as Dorsett has been a very profitable variety for practically 

 all who have grovm it. The fine flavor and great beauty of the fruit has made it very i^opular 

 with the constuniiig public. Although the fruit is not sufficiently firm to withstand rough 

 handling, or long hauls, it is plenty firm enough for the average grower whose market is 

 within 150 or 200 miles, if ordinary care is exercised in picking and handling. Dorsett will give 

 greater response to good treatment than any other variety, and are therefore exceptionally fine 

 for the careful gi'ower. and will well repay the extra care required to grow them at their 

 best. For. at their best. Dorsett is about the finest thing one could wish for in beauty, size, 

 yield and flavor. 



GKOWTH — The health and vigor of Dorsett is 

 far superior to the older varieties, making a strong 

 upright growth that may become too rank on rich 

 soil that has had too liberal applications of ferti- 

 lizer or manure, this is especially true in the 

 Northern States and is a condition that should be 

 avoided as the yield and the size of the fruit will 

 be cut down materially. Very resistant to leaf 

 spot and other foliage troubles. 



SIZE — The fruit is large although they will not 

 average as large as Fairfax. Averaging about with 

 Chesapeake. Under very dry conditions Dorsett 

 berries will run down in size toward the end of 

 the season but with normal weather or when the 

 idants are properly spaced the entire crop is ma- 

 tured to a good size. 



QUAI.ITT AXD riLATOK— The superior flavor 

 and quality of Dorsetr is credited to its parent. 

 Royal Sovereign, an old English variety which was 

 prized for high dessert ciuality. Being superior to 

 Chesapeake or Wm. Belt. This exceptional qual- 

 ity has placed Dorsett as a great favorite on all 

 markets and where the berries are sold to a priv- 

 ate trade the great demand and repeat calls have 

 held the price of Dorsett berries well in advance 

 of the general market. 



COI.OR — Dorsett berries have a beautiful ap- 

 pearance, are a light red in color, several shades 

 lighter than Premier, retaining this color to a 

 marked degree for several days after they are ap- 

 parently ripe. The fruit is "conic to long conic, 

 very regular with a few of the early berries wedge 

 shape. In our opinion there is no variety more 

 attractive than Dorsett. 



PKODrCTITEXESS — Although Dorsett will not 

 set as large a crop as Premier they have outyield- 

 ed them in many tests through their ability to size 

 the entire crop better. 



FROST RESISTANCE — From the reports we 



have and from our own experience. Dorsett is sus- 

 ceptible to considerable damage from late frost. 

 There have been no reports of a complete loss of a 

 crop, but in sections where late frosts are preval- 

 ent, with poor air drainage, losses have been quite 

 severe. 



ADAPTABIEITY— Dorsett has shown to be weU 

 adapted to any sections where Premier can be suc- 

 cessfully grown. In the far Northern sections its 

 vigorous growth on rich soils has made spacing 

 or thinning necessary to obtain best results. 



FIRMNESS — More firm than Premier, although 

 they are not as firm as Fairfax or Blakemore. If 

 ordinary care is taken in picking and handling 

 will stand shipping very well and will arrive in 

 the markets in perfect condition. 



Chaves Countv. New Mexico 

 February 10. 1035' 

 Enclosed find nrder for strawberry plants. 

 Dorsett has been most successful here. Although 

 we have plenty of irrigation wafer, our seasons 

 are hot and dry. Gem is too soft under irriga- 

 tion, but on a small trial planting at our 

 mountain resort, both Gem and Dorsett were 

 extra fine. Fairfax couldn't take it under our 

 hot sun, but the short crop gave us fine ber- 

 ries. Yours verv trulv. 



.Jam'es VT.' Albert 



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