SELBYVILLE, DELAWARE Strawberries 
DORSETT and FAIRFAX—Continued 
Frost Resistance. Both varieties equal Premier 
in that respect, which variety is generally known to 
produce a crop of berries when many others fail fol¬ 
lowing frosty periods during blooming season. 
Quality and Size of Fruit is such that they com¬ 
mand immediate attention on the market, and it 
has been known that Premier berries on the market 
would not move until Fairfax and Dorsett were all 
sold. 
Season of Ripening. Begins with Premier and 
continues for a longer period of time. 
Pollenization. Both varieties are perfect. In 
other words the blooms produce an abundance of 
pollen. 
We could continue making favorable statements 
about Fairfax and Dorsett Strawberries, and can 
sincerely recommend them to anyone interested in 
growing Strawberries for either home use or com¬ 
mercial markets. 
For further information, we quote the description 
as published by the U. S. Department of Agriculture 
as follows: 
The Dorsett 
ORIGIN AND SELECTION 
The Dorsett (U. S. D. A. No. 633) orig¬ 
inated from a cross of Royal Sovereign x 
Howard 17 (Premier), made in 1923 at the 
U. S. Plant Field Station near Glenn Dale, 
Md. It was among the selections made 
from this cross in 1925. In 1930 it ap¬ 
peared very promising where tested in 
Southern New Jersey. Its vigor, pro¬ 
ductiveness and dessert quality were out¬ 
standing. In 1932, trials made in different 
points in Maryland, Delaware and New 
Jersey indicated that it was worthy of in¬ 
troduction as a variety for home gardens 
as well as local and long distance markets 
in sections having conditions similar to 
those in the above mentioned states. 
CHARACTERIZATION 
The Dorsett is a vigorous growing va¬ 
riety under normal conditions, producing 
many runners and making a heavy matted 
row, which may become too dense when it 
is grown on rich soil. The leaves are 
usually smaller and not so glossy as those 
of the Fairfax and slightly lighter in color 
than those of Howard 17. When growing 
vigorously the peticles become very long. 
The leaves have not been seriously injured 
by leaf spot diseases and is considered as 
resistant as Howard 17. 
The Dorsett 
The flower stalks are not as strong as in the Fair¬ 
fax, but much more erect than Howard 17. Due to 
the fact that fewer berries usually mature per flower 
stalk than in the Fairfax, most of the fruit is borne 
off the ground. Branching of flower stalks is irregu¬ 
lar, both high and low branching occuring. Pollen 
production is probably about as abundant as in 
Howard 17 but far less abundant than in Fairfax. 
The tertiary and quanternary flowers often do not 
set fruit. Due to the number of plants which this 
variety makes, the yield is heavy in a wide-matted 
row though the flower stalks do not set all their 
flowers. 
Its ripening season begins at about the same time 
as that of Howard 17 but a much larger early crop 
is produced. In New Jersey its season was longer 
than that of Howard 17 (June 3rd to June 21st) while 
at Glenn Dale, Md., it was shorter, extending from 
May 25th to June 8th. 
The fruit is usually conic in shape, sometimes 
long conic and the early berries somewhat irregular. 
However they present a very uniform appearance. 
The color is bright red, lighter than Howard 17, 
especially late in the season, with greenish, yellow, or 
reddish seeds, and does not become dark when over¬ 
ripe. The seeds are slightly below the surface, which, 
together with a somewhat tender epidermis, makes 
it more susceptible to bruising than Fairfax, but not 
as susceptible as Howard 17; the flesh is pinkish red, 
somewhat firmer than Howard 17 but not as firm 
as the Fairfax. 
Its flavor is mild sub-acid; under normal condi¬ 
tions it is sweet and very pleasing but not as rich as 
Fairfax. However, the flavor does not become so 
objectionable when overripe. In one season of much 
rainfall in Maryland, when berries lacked sweetness 
the flavor was better than that of Fairfax. It has 
succeeded especially well on heavy soil. 
See page 3 for prices of Strawberries 
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