STRAWBERRY GROWING 
n 
best variety, its greatest fault being that the fruit is tender and does not 
bear shipping well. 
Clarke’s Seedling. This is one of the varieties which has won a repu¬ 
tation in O cgon from where it is shipped into this state. It is an attractive 
looking be“ry of g''eat firmness and keeping qualities. Mr. C. L. Parsons, 
of Boulder, who has tested this variety reports it as being a poor producer 
in other localities. 
on his place. It is worthy of further tests under different conditions and 
Chesapeake.— (Perfect.) Plant vigorous and stocky, berries large, reg¬ 
ular, rounded-conical form; co’or deep crimson, seeds yellow and prominent. 
This is a new variety producing fruit of excellent quality and firmness and 
of very attractive appea'ance. It is being tried by Mr. Joseph Hoyt, of 
Canon C'ty. It is reported from New Hampshire as being a light producer. 
In other respects it possesses splendid commercial qualities and is especially 
prbmismg fr>~ home use. 
Wm. Belt.— (Perfect.) One of the large fruited vigorous varieties 
which has done wel’ as a market berry on the heavier, moist soils near 
Longmont. This va-iety is also favorably reported from Michigan for 
its product’veness and vigor. 
Splendid.—(Perfect.) This is a vigorous growing variety which forms 
full matted rows of stocky plants. The berries are large, light scarlet and 
ripen slowly at the tip. It is reported favorably as a producer for market 
near Denver. 
Cost of Grozving, Yields and Profit. The fact that blit few of even 
the best growers keep any records of the expense of growing an acre 
of strawberries makes it difficult to give any exact statements in this 
connection. Mr. C. L. Parsons, of Boulder, kept records one year 
during which the total expense (not including rental or interest on cost 
of the land) was $105.00 for one acre of strawberries. Mr. J. P. 
Farmer, of Canon City, estimates that the equivalent of one man’s time 
during summer with horse could care for five acres of berries except 
harvesting. He also estimates that it will cost $125 to $150 to grow an 
acre in the best manner, but believes that this is more than is usually 
put into the crop. - In all probability $too per acre is near the average 
expense of growing a crop of strawberries as practiced on a commercial 
scale in Colorado. 
The profits in this industry are likewise a matter of great variability 
as they depend not alone on the cost of producing and harvesting the 
crop but also on the markets. It costs no more to grow a large yield 
than a small one. In the former case, to be sure, the cost of harvesting 
will be increased, and if a large yield is general the price is apt to be 
correspondingly low. Some general estimates of yields in the Canon 
City region range from 300 to as high as 800 crates per acre, the latter 
case being from small tracts. Bederwood in this region produces from 
300 to 500 crates per acre in a good season. 
From estimates given by growers in other regions and from other 
varieties it is evident that a crop of *300 crates per acre should be con¬ 
sidered a good yield in a normal season. 
The cost of harvesting and packing varies less widely than most of 
the other operations, and is estimated at from 60 to 65 cents per crate in 
places where pickers are paid 2 cents a quart. An average of the esti¬ 
mates secured on the cost of producing a crate of berries ready for 
market is about $1.15. The price received by the growers during the 
