126 STATE POMOLOQICAL SOCIETY. 



ready for the worms the last of May. The flies that produce the 

 worms make their appearance, usually, the last week in May. 

 Their presence is readily shown by turning up the leaves, when 

 numerous clusters of eggs will be seen upon the under sides, 

 adhering in rows upon the ribs of the leaves. The worms hatch 

 from these in about four days and commence eating slight holes 

 through the leaf. As they become older the tissue of the leaf is 

 wholly devoured before they leave it. At this stage of their 

 growth their presence is easily detected, and a weak solution of 

 the poke will destroy them. Much vigilance is required to keep 

 the plants clear of these insects, as successive broods appear every 

 month, or oftener, through the season. A garden syringe with a 

 fine nose, costing one dollar, is wanted to apply the solution. 



After Cultwation. The third year the plant will bear quite a 

 crop of fruit, and continue increasing in productiveness indefi- 

 nitely, according as the plantation is enriched and otherwise cared 

 for. A half bushel may be picked from a single plant. To avoid 

 any ill efiects upon the fruit that might be feared from the use of 

 the worm remedy, it is well to withhold the solution for ten 

 days before picking, unless rain should occur before. When the 

 plants have borne one or two crops, top-dress the ground thor- 

 oughly in the fall. As the bushes will be getting large, occasion- 

 ing more inconvenience in passing among them, let the work be 

 thorough. Use a compost of manure, leaf mold, ashes, turf, «fec. 

 Mulch at the same time with chip manure, sawdust, or anything 

 that will keep the manure from drying up, as well as the ground 

 cool and moist. It will also serve to keep down the weeds. 



ricking the Fruit. Picking should be done while the fruit is yet 

 green, after it has attained to full size and before it begins to turn. 

 While in a green state the berries are hard and remain so for a 

 long time after the fruit is gathered. But after it begins to change 

 color it soon grows soft, and on that account is objectionable for 

 market. So, too, premature turning of the fruit is the result of 

 pickkig in hot weather and allowing the berries to lie in a mass or 

 barreling them up without allowing them to become cooled. 

 Hence, they should be spread out thinly as picked, or put in the 

 cellar. 



Prejjaring for Market. Remove the leaves and dirt by running 

 through a faiming mill, adjusting the sieves so as to separate the 

 smaller berries, also the coarser particles of dirt. Pick out all 

 partially decayed and wormy fruit by hand. When ready for 



