The Chili strawberry, brought directly from the Pacific coast to
the East, is not at home in our climate, and is still more
unfitted to contend with it after generations of culture in
Europe. Even our hardier Virginia strawberry, coming back to us
from England after many years of high stimulation in a moist, mild
climate, is unequal to the harsher conditions of life here. They
are like native Americans who have lived and been pampered abroad
so long that they find this country "quite too rude, you know--
beastly climate." Therefore, in the choice varieties, and in
developing new ones, the nearer we can keep to vigorous strains of
our own hardy Virginia species the better. From it have proceeded
and will continue to come the finest kinds that can be grown east
of the Rockies. Nevertheless, what was said of foreign raspberries
is almost equally true of European strawberries like the Triomphe
de Gand and Jucunda, and hybrids like the Wilder. In localities
where they can be grown, their beauty and fine flavor repay for
the high culture and careful winter protection required. But they
can scarcely be made to thrive on light soils or very far to the
south.
So many varieties are offered for sale that the question of choice
is a bewildering one. I have therefore sought to meet it, as
before, by giving the advice of those whose opinions are well
entitled to respect.
Pages:
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157