Two Years' Results in Testing Varieties 



"I learned more in one day at your variety experiment plot than in five years of local observa- 

 tion," wrote Mr. Fred W. Wittman, a large strawberry grower in Mercer County, New Jersey, after 

 visiting our trial plots in May, 1933. This bears out our belief that the results of these tests are well 

 worth some study by all strawberry growers. In studying the results, the conditions of the experi- 

 ment should be kept in mind. 



1. Average Conditions. The soil was neither very high nor very low, being a good medium loam of 

 average fertility, to which we applied a moderate amount of fertilizer such as any regular grower 

 would apply. The 1932 and 1933 plots were on the same piece of land with the ends of the rows 

 adjoining. Soil and fertility conditions were identical. 



2. Uniformity. As in 1932, the plant growth of all varieties was very good, making fruiting beds 

 with as much growth as would normally be expected for each variety. 



3. Moisture Conditions. 1932 was very dry, with no rains in the important period just before 

 ripening and none during the entire fruiting season of the early varieties. In 1933 there was plenty 

 of moisture in the period before ripening and entirely too much during the ripening season, with rains 

 nearly every day or night. These two years have certainly furnished extremes of moisture conditions 

 under which to test the varieties. 



4. Yield Per Acre. Berries inferior in size or condition rarely bring a profitable price. The total 

 yield of a good grade of marketable berries is, therefore, of prime importance in studying any pro- 

 duction figures. All berries, regardless of grade, are included in the figures given. 



Total Yield in Quarts Per Acre 



Variety 



Dorsett 



Fairfax 



Premier 



Southland 



Blakemore 



Howard Supreme 



Bellmar 



Ridgely (Jupiter) 



Aberdeen 



Beauty 



Big Joe 



Chesapeake 



Lupton 



William Belt 

 Big Late 



Grade of Berries, 1933 



Actual percentages on grade were not compiled 

 in 1933, but close observation revealed the fol- 

 lowing: 



Dorsett, Fairfax, Blakemore and Chesapeake 

 stood up under wet conditions better than the 

 others. 



Premier, Bellmar, Howard Supreme, and Big 

 Late produced many fine berries, but even under 

 ample moisture conditions so many were set that 

 a fairly large percentage was not marketable on 

 account of small size. 



1932 



Qts. per 

 acre 



6,640 

 5,120 

 4,520 

 4,480 

 3,360 

 2,680 

 2,480 

 480 

 3,200 

 2,400 

 2,720 

 3,160 

 3,080 

 1,760 

 1,280 



very dry year 



Per cent 



good to 



fancy 



1933 very 

 wet year 



Qts. per 

 acre 



83% 11,775 



90% 11,214 



77% 11,675 



94% 8,417 



76% 10,600 



73% 11,354 



84% 10,092 



50% 8,971 



77% 11,700 



56% 7,850 



62% 9,845 



62% 9,111 

 79% no record 

 50% no record 



75% 9,251 



Hot suns following the rains caused many of 

 the Aberdeen and Beauty berries to be ruined 

 by sun scald. 



Ridgely (Jupiter) has very firm flesh but 

 breaks down quickly under wet conditions. 



Big Joe seemed to thrive on plenty of mois- 

 ture. It was very fine this year. 



Dorsett and Fairfax, Blakemore and Southland, 

 with very favorable foliage conditions, showed 

 less grit on the berries after the rains than the 

 other kinds. 



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