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L/Or56lT} possibilities that we would not set Premier on our own farms for fruit if we had 

 plenty of Dorsett plants available. Dorsett is a scientific cross of Howard 17 (Premier) x Royal 

 Sovereign made in 1923 in the Government Field Station near Washington (U. S. Dept. of Agr. 

 seedling No. 633). As with Fairfax, the outstanding characteristic of the Dorsett is its quality, 

 although it is good enough in nearly all respects to make it a very serious contender for com- 

 mercial prominence. We realize that this variety has been tried only in Maryland, Delaware 

 and New Jersey, and that in its reaction to other soils and local conditions it may not be 

 universally as good as in the states mentioned and perhaps not as good generally as the Premier. 

 Nevertheless, we like it so well that we again say if we were planting a strawberry patch for 

 fancy fruit and had plenty of Fairfax and Dorsett plants available we would not set any Premier. 



Quality. No other introduced variety except 

 Fairfax has the fine dessert quality of Dorsett. 

 This quality is probably taken from the Eng- 

 lish variety, Royal Sovereign, which is one of 

 its parents. There are some differences of 

 opinion as to whether Dorsett or Fairfax is 

 the best in quality, but there is little difference 

 in opinion as to the fact that the two varieties 

 stand head and shoulders above the general run 

 of our leading commercial sorts as far as 

 quality is concerned. 



Vigor and Health of Foliage. Dorsett makes 

 slightly different type of growth from Fairfax, 

 but is equally vigorous and healthy. The foli- 

 age is somewhat darker in color and maintains 

 its vigorous, healthy condition clear through 

 the fruiting season. 



Productiveness. Under the near-drought 

 conditions of our trial plot, Dorsett produced 

 at the rate of 6,640 quarts per acre, 83 per cent 

 of which rated from good to fancy and 17 per 

 cent poor to fair. The total production of ber- 

 ries rated good to fancy in the Dorsett plot 

 was at the rate of 5,220 quarts per acre as 

 against 3,480 quarts of good to fancy Premier 

 berries on the best of four Premier plots. It 

 is possible that Dorsett may not in all cases 

 stand out in productiveness as it has in this 

 plot especially where conditions are unfavor- 

 able at fruit setting time. However, it has 

 such a long lead in productiveness that it can 

 drop off considerably and still be the leader. 



Resistance to Frost. The variety is too 

 young to have definitely established itself as 

 being resistant to frost damage, yet in the few 

 years of its existence there has been little frost 

 damage noted. 



Size of Berries. Dorsett berries average 

 very large in size, being about as large as the 

 Fairfax, except for the very last of the crop 

 which on account of the tremendous yield tends 

 to run down in size slightly. Under the condi- 

 tions of our trial plot, Dorsett berries averaged 

 larger in size than any other early variety 

 except possibly Fairfax and Southland. 



Firmness. Dorsett berries are firmer than 

 Premier, though perhaps not quite as firm as 

 Fairfax and Blakemore. They are firm enough 

 to ship moderate distances and go into market 

 in good condition. We feel that Dorsett is 

 firm enough so that, coupled with its other 

 outstanding qualities, it will become a leading 

 commercial sort. It may not replace Blake- 

 more and Missionary as long distance southern 

 shipping berries, but for local and nearby mar- 

 ket and shipping moderate distances such as 

 has been done with Premier, we feel that it has 

 an excellent chance of becoming a leader, if 

 not the leader. 



Color and Appearance. It is in the color 

 and appearance of the berries that Dorsett is 

 most distinct from Fairfax. They have most 

 of the desirable characteristics in common. 

 Dorsett berries are rather light in color, being 

 fully as light as Premier or Howard 17, and 

 holding their light color about as well as 

 Blakemore. This probably will be a big factor 

 when marketing Dorsett on wholesale markets 

 where buyers are accustomed to considering 

 dark color a definite sign of over-ripeness. 

 The berries are beautiful in appearance, the 

 light color, bright green cap, large size and 

 attractive shape of the berries make them very 

 desirable and should appeal to many buyers. 

 Once tasted, this appeal becomes doubly strong. 



Possibilities. Most of those who have eaten both Fairfax and Dorsett berries are inclined 

 to think that Fairfax has perhaps a little richer, better flavor, and for this reason Fairfax 

 may lead as a home garden berry. On the other hand, Dorsett is practically as good in quality 

 and has the light color which is popular on most markets. For this reason we think likely that 

 Dorsett will be more widely grown as a commercial berry for local market or moderate shipping 

 distances. One of the largest berry growers in New Jersey who has grown extensively Blake- 

 more, Bellmar, Premier, Aberdeen and other leading commercial kinds and has also tested quite 

 thoroughly Fairfax and Dorsett, says that he considers Dorsett the most valuable variety he 

 has had, and if he were limited to one sort he would choose the Dorsett. As with Fairfax the 

 supply of plants this year is limited but we feel it should be tested in every home garden and 

 commercial planting. A trial of 100 plants is recommended. The short supply of plants makes 

 it necessary to limit each customer to 500 plants. Even with this limitation our stock is likely 

 to run out before the season is over, so we urge again that you place your order early. 

 For prices, see page 31. 



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