240 STRAWBERRY. 



Prevention and Eemedies. — The above observations are 

 given in such lengthened detail in the hope that they may 

 afford some clue towards more complete methods of dealing 

 with this destructive and (at present) increasingly prevalent 

 attack than we possess at present. 



The great point to be noticed in the habits of the beetles is 

 that they feed by night; after their nocturnal ravages, they 

 shelter, it may be, in cracks in the ground, as noted by one 

 observer ; or again, in the way noted at p. 237 : — " The beetles 

 lie round the plant, and under the earth, which is covered 

 with straw and litter, having their holes and runs through the 

 earth and litter ; the opening being through the litter and just 

 under the bunch of fruit attacked. The beetles . . . seem 

 most active an hour after dark." 



In one of the reports sent me it was mentioned that " flesh 

 covered by pieces of thick sacking attracts a number which are 

 easily killed." It was also noted that the beetles had been 

 caught by vessels being baited and set in the ground, into 

 which the beetles fell, and could be killed by some destructive 

 mixture. Also a note sent on July 24th, 1895, mentioned that 

 "A well just dug has the surface of the water entirely covered 

 with the beetles." 



But it was not until the 19th of July of the year 1898 that, 

 through kind courtesy of Messrs. Laxton Brothers, of Bedford, 

 I was favoured with information of a method of treatment 

 which they had found quite successful for clearing the pests 

 out of their own beds, and which they permit me to publish, 

 with their name attached. 



Messrs. Laxton wrote as follows : — 



" We are pleased to be able to report that we have almost 

 entirely destroyed the beetle pest which played such havoc 

 with our Strawberry crop last season. 



" We purchased a large quantity of cheap pudding-basins, 

 early this spring ; these are let into the ground, level with the 

 surface, at distances of a few yards apart, and kept them 

 baited with pieces of lights and sugar-water. When the 

 weather was dry we often caught half a basinful of a night, 

 until the number gradually diminished to two or three, and 

 now none at all. It is a laborious process, but well worth the 

 trouble, as we have lost no fruit this season. — (Signed) Laxton 

 Brothers." 



Another method which, if too expensive for broad-scale 

 growing, answered excellently on the smaller scale of a 

 private garden, was mentioned to me by my friend and 

 neighbour, the Eev. J. A. Cruickshank, as having answered 

 thoroughly in saving his Strawberries in the Vicarage garden 

 at Sandridge, near St. Albans, from the Harpakis rujicornis, 



