Points of Merit — Continued 



and Fairfax, equalling Premier in total produc- 

 tion, far surpass it in total production of fancy 

 berries, largely because they set fewer berries 

 per plant and size up even the last end of the 

 crop to a fair marketable size. 



4. Quality 



High dessert, or eating quality, is very de- 

 sirable in strawberries, especially those grown 

 in a home garden or for the fresh fruit market. 

 The few crates of Dorsett and Fairfax that we 

 had for shipping in 1933 were fine, large, at- 

 tractive berries, but the really amaz- 

 ing sales on them, compared with 

 other varieties, was due largely to 

 their higher quality. We were able 

 to cash in on the quality even on the 

 New York wholesale market. (See 

 page 16.) There are indications 

 also that higher quality in berries, 

 such as is represented in Dorsett 

 and Fairfax, will result in an actual 

 increase in consumption and thus 

 enlarge our market outlets. The 

 reverse of this was certainly true 

 in the case of one large western city. 

 Susceptibility to disease made it 

 necessary to stop growing Marshall, 

 a variety of high quality, and to 

 supplant it with Nick Ohmer, a 

 variety less susceptible to disease, 

 but much lower 

 quality. The con- 

 sumption of 

 strawberries o n 

 the San Francisco 

 market decreased 

 continuously after 

 this necessary 

 change from a 

 high quality to a 

 low quality berry 

 was made. 



Happy days are here again 



5. Firmness 



Where berries 

 must be shipped 

 considerable dis- 

 tances, firmness is very essential. It is also 

 of prime importance where labor is scarce and 

 berries cannot be kept picked closely ; where too 

 much rain not only delays picking, but where 

 the water also tends to break down and rot the 

 berries ; and where it is desirable to stretch out 

 the season for a few days. In considering firm- 

 ness, attention should be given, not only to the 

 actual firmness of the flesh, but to the toughness 

 of the skin. For instance, Aberdeen has a very 

 soft flesh as well as a very tender skin. With 

 Southland, the skin is tender, but the flesh itself 

 is quite firm. Lupton has a fairly tough skin 

 but flesh that is quite soft. Of course the de- 

 sirable thing is to have both firmness of flesh 

 and toughness of skin. 



6. Color and Attractiveness 



Some individuals and some markets like dark 

 berries best, others light berries. In judging 

 color, therefore, your own personal preference, 

 or the requirements of your market, must be the 

 deciding factor. Several things determine the 



attractiveness of the fruit — the evenness of ripen- 

 ing with the presence or absence of green sides 

 and tips — the shape and uniformity of the berries 

 — the smoothness and glossiness of the skin — 

 the prominence and color of the seeds — the size 

 and freshness of the caps — all of these things 

 play their part in determining whether you 

 would call a quart of berries beautiful and 

 attractive. As "showiness" is so important in 

 selling, all of these factors should be given con- 

 sideration in judging any variety. 



7. Ability to Set Fruit, Especially Under 

 Unfavorable Conditions 



Nearly all varieties, when con- 

 ditions are favorable, will set plenty 

 of fruit, although even then varieties 

 differ in their ability to set good 

 crops of perfect berries. In addi- 

 tion, there are several things which 

 must be considered in rating varie- 

 ties on this point: (a) Resistance to 

 frost injury. The blossoms of some 

 varieties are very hardy (Premier, 

 Chesapeake) . Others are more easily 

 killed, or injured so their fruit will 

 sometimes be green tipped or knotty, 

 due to imperfect pollenation (Big 

 Late. Southland, Big Joe), (b) Heavy 

 production of pollen makes a perfect 

 set more certain (Fairfax, Aber- 

 deen), (c) Any variety with 

 imperfect blossoms is severely 

 handicapped in setting fruit 

 by the fact that all of the 

 pollen for pollenating its blos- 

 soms must be transferred from 

 other rows by wind or insects. 



(d) Over fertilization, with 

 very vigorous varieties (Dor- 

 sett), on rich land, sometimes 

 produces growth too rank and 

 too thick. The deep shading 

 effect in the plant bed under 

 these conditions is not favor- 

 able for setting perfect fruit. 



(e) Very dry conditions in pre- 

 vious growing year, and also 



at blooming time often affect both the produc- 

 tion of fruit buds and the setting of them (Bell- 

 mar, Gaudy). With all varieties sunshine at 

 blossoming time is a help; rain a hindrance, 

 in setting fruit. 



8. Other Factors 



Some other factors which are important, and 

 which should be considered in judging straw- 

 berry varieties, are (a) ability to protect fruit 

 from sun and dirt, especially after showers ; 

 (b) probable ability to produce a satisfactory 

 crop the second year; (c) suitability for can- 

 ning or preserving where the berries are desired 

 for such purposes. 



Any variety, whether new or old, that can meet 

 these requirements to your satisfaction is a 

 valuable variety for you. The nearer any variety 

 can come to meeting all of them in the best 

 possible manner, the nearer that variety ap- 

 proaches perfection and the nearer it comes to 

 being the ideal variety for you to grow. 



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