164 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



larvae attain maturity the last of September or the first of October, but do not ap- 

 pear as perfect insects until the following spring. 



After the insects have clrav\-n the leaves about themselves it is difficult to reach 

 them with any application, but in sections vrhere trouble is feared from these in- 

 sects in new plantations, the plants should be thoroughly sprayed with Paris green 

 or arsenic about the middle of June, and the applications should be repeated once 

 in ten days up to the middle of July. The Paris green should be used at the rate 

 of one pound in 150 gallons of watei", and lime should be added to prevent injury 

 to the foliage, and to hold the poison so that it will not be washed off by rains. If 

 in spite of the spraying it is found that the insects have passed into the pupa form 

 the leaves should be picked off if the numbers are not great, or a heavy roller may 

 be passed over them. Although this will not destroy all of the insects, it will crush 

 large numbers of them. About the first of September before the second brood is 

 hatched, another application of the poison should be made, and followed by two or 

 three more at intervals of ten da.vs. Frequent repetition of the spraying is neces- 

 sary, as new leaves are constantly a])])earing. and if they are not covered with the 

 poison the insects which feed upon them will escape to start a new brood. It will 

 not be safe to use the poison during the fruiting season of the second year, but as 

 soon as the crop has been harvested steps should be taken to destroy the larvae, 

 whether the plants are to be kept for a third year or not. This can be done by the 

 thorough burning of the leaves as recommended above. Some persons have thought 

 that if the plantations are not to be kept for another year it would suffice to plow- 

 up the bed. but this is not sufficient to destroy the larvae, and many of them would 

 complete their development and come forth as moths to deposit their eggs upon 

 neighboring plantations. In September when there is danger of a second brood, the 

 plants shotild be sprayed as recommended for the first year. 



The treatment above recommended is, of course, rather expensive, but in sections 

 where the leaf roller has become as numerous as it is in various parts of Southern 

 Michigan, something of the kind must be done if a crop is to be secured, and 

 especially if the insects have not previously appeared in a section, but are found 

 upon plants that have .iust been purchased, the danger of injury is so great that a 

 considerable expense would be warranted ip exterminating them. When plants 

 are purchased the.v should be carefully examined, and if leaves that contain small 

 larvae or chrysalides are found, they should be carefully picked off and burned, and 

 the plants dipped into Paris green for a length of time sufficient to permit it to 

 penetrate to all parts. 



THE STRAWBERRY WEEVIL. 



Although not generally common, a small insect known as the strawberry weevil 

 has done considerable injur.v in some sections by feeding upon the pollen of pei'fect 

 flowered varieties, thus not only preventing them from fruiting, btit rendering the 

 fruit of the imperfect-flowered kinds of no value. In sections where the weevil 

 is at work the strawberries will need attention while in bud, or the crop will be a 

 failure. M. Nelson of Menominee, Michigan, who has been considerably troubled 

 with these insects, has invented a machine for the burning of sulphur and blowing 

 the fumes upon the plants, and finds it a sure remedy. Of the ordinary remedies 

 nothing will be found of more value than Paris green and lime water sprayed over 

 the plants, but in order to have the treatment effectual, a second application at 

 the end of three or four days will be advisable. The application of the water 

 should be made before the buds open, as it will be of little use against the larvae. 

 The perfect insect deposits its eggs inside of the flowers before they open, and. and 

 then punctures and cuts the flower stems so that they drop to the ground. The 

 flowers remain closed and the larvae developing inside feed upon the pollen. Care 

 should be taken not to appl.v poisons after the fruit has set. While in some cases 

 there is undoubtedly considerable benefit from the poison, it is likely that the 

 lime sprayed over the plants acts as a deterrent, and has perhaps an even greater 

 benefit than the poison. In the case of varieties that are injured by the leaf 

 blight, Bordeaux mixture should be submitted for the lime, as it is a fungicide, and 

 will both serve to destroy insects and prevent the spread of the disease. 



THE STRAWBERRY LEAF BLIGHT. 



While subject to the attack of but few diseases, nearly all varieties of straw- 

 berries are more or less injured by the fungous disease commonly knoAvu as straw- 



