There is, however, one perfect strawberry in existence,--the
strawberry of memory,--the little wildlings that we gathered perhaps,
with those over whom the wild strawberry is now growing. We will admit
no fault in it, and although we may no longer seek for this favorite
fruit of our childhood, with the finest specimens of the garden before
us we sigh for those berries that grew on some far-off hillside in
years still farther away.




CHAPTER VI

CHOICE OF SOIL AND LOCATION


The choice that Tobias Hobson imposed on his patrons when he compelled
them to take "the horse nearest to the stable-door" or none at all, is
one that, in principle, we often have to make in selecting our
strawberry-ground. We must use such as we have, or raise no berries.
And yet it has been said that "with no other fruit do soil and
locality make so great differences." While I am inclined to think that
this is truer of the raspberry, it is also thoroughly established that
location and the native qualities of the soil are among the first and
chief considerations in working out the problem of success with
strawberries.

Especially should such forethought be given in selecting a soil suited
to the varieties we wish to raise. D. Thurber, editor "American