Breeding Hardy Strawberries

A new variety of fruit produced by man\u27s effort is really a new invention. The work of originating new fruits corresponds to that of inventing in the domain of the mechanical industries. Hence a fruit-breeder has some reason for claiming to belong in the ranks of inventors. It may be of interest to state briefly how new strawberries are invented. Strawberries do not come true to seed. Fifty or more plants may be raised from the seed found on the surface of a single berry. When these seedlings come into bearing there will be no two exactly alike. Some of the plants will bear fruit very small in size and perhaps of inferior quality. Upon others the fruit will be very small but of excellent quality; upon other plan is the fruit will be of large size but lacking in quality, firmness, or other necessary characteristics. Some of the varieties that are best in quality will have fruit so soft that they cannot be shipped, hence such varieties are worthless for market purposes. Other plants will bear fruit desirable in every respect but the plants will be unproductive. Finally, some plants will be admirably adapted for market use but upon trial elsewhere will be found of local adaptation only, the plants being productive only upon certain soils and in certain regions. Out of thousands of seedlings perhaps only one will become a standard market variety. It is probably impossible to secure a variety that is cosmopolitan enough to be adapted equally well to all soils and localities