1900 SUPPLEMENT—RECENT INTRODUCTIONS, &C. 691 
Strawherry—continued. 
work together for the production of good fruit. The 
healthy foliage quickly absorbs and assimilates the plant- 
food supplied by the grower, and is followed by excellent 
crops of frnit, as shown in Fig. 704, bearing ripe berries. 
Fic. 704. ForcED STRAWBERRIES IN FRUIT. 
Next in importance to having good foliage is the keeping 
of the leaves clean and free from insect pests, otherwise 
they may be entirely destroyed by these foes. d 
Spider appears, fumigation with one of the vaporising 
insecticides is necessary; but if the foliage is well 
syringed daily, except when the plants are in blossom, 
and when bearing ripe fruit, few insect enemies will put 
in an appearance. When the fruit is swelling freely, 
2oz. of muriate of potash in 1 gallon of water will assist 
the berries considerably if applied once a week, but this 
pbualant shonld cease when the fruit commences to 
colour. 
Insects, &c. Strawberries ontside are attacked by 
two or three species of voracious Ground-Beetles, which, 
- forsaking for a time their carnivorous 
diet, feast upon the ripening fruit. 
Harpalus ruficornis, a very common 
Beetle, is one that is found in enor- 
mous numbers in Strawberry-beds, 
the mulching usually provided afford- 
ing it a safe harbourage in the day- 
time. It feeds at night. The insect 
is about din. long, flattish, and dark 
as to colour. Indeed, the head and 
thorax are quite black, and the only 
relief to its general sombre colouring 
are the red legs, antenne, and the 
down upon its wing-cases. The 
larval state is passed beneath the 
soil. This insect is winged, contrary 
to what is usual in the Ground- 
Beetles found in this country. 
Pterostichus (Steropus) madidus 
(Fig. 705) is even commoner than 
the Harpalus, and is altogether a 
larger insect, reaching jin. long. It 
is shiny black, ovate, convex, with 
a distinct furrow in the back, and 
much streaked. The legs of this 
insect are sometimes red. The 
Beetle is very common in gardens, and is wingless. 
Equally common is Calathus cisteloides, another wingless 
insect, but swift of foot. It is black, approaches din. in 
' length, and is very fond of sheltering beneath stones and 
fallen leaves. The above, with perhaps Zabrus gibbus and 
Fig. 705. PrERosTICHUS 
MADIDUS, 
Strawberry—continued. 
a few of the Sunshiners (Amara), are the exceptions in 
the family Carabide to those feeding exclusively upon 
flesh. 
In the case of a small garden, the Beetles may be hand- 
picked by dislodging them from their hiding- 
places during the day; but where there are 
acres of the frnit under cultivation something 
less laborious would necessarily have to be 
adopted. The paste known as the Magic, if 
properly distributed, soon thins them down; 
or Ramsden’s Beetle Paste may be employed. 
Messrs. Laxton Bros., the Strawberry special- 
ists, of Bedford, have devised a very ingenious 
way of dealing with these destructive Ground- 
Beetles. Their plan is to sink all over their 
fields common basins, baited with tempting 
morsels. The Beetles make their way into 
the basins, but are unable to get out of them. 
The method is fully described in their 
‘Strawberry Manual.” 
A well-known pest is a species of Nematoid 
Worm.. Aphelencus fragariz. This is very 
dificult to deal with, owing to its method of 
feeding beneath the soil. So far its ravages 
have been best met by the introduction of 
certain artificials, which, while doing good 
tothe crop, render the quarters uncomfort- 
able. 
Funei. Many of the fungi affecting Straw- 
berries were briefly mentioned in Vol. III. 
Some of these now require more extended 
notice, as they have since proved serious 
pests. é 
Strawberry Mildew (Spherotheca hwmuli) 
is a most injurious disease against which the 
cultivator has to do battle. At one time it 
was thonght that it was identical with the 
Rose Mildew (Sphxrotheca pannosa), but further inyes- 
tigations haye shown that it differs from that well-known 
pest, the chief point of difference lying in the shape 
of the conidia and in their size. The disease is not by any 
means of recent discovery, Berkeley, the pioneer of plant- 
diseases due to fungi, haying described it more than forty 
years ago in the ‘‘Gardeners’ Chronicle.” Nor is it 
confined to the Strawberry, as its specific name suggests, 
the hop-grower having suffered severely from its ravages. 
Moreover, it is found upon many common British plants, 
and therefore its presence in gardens causes little sur- 
prise. Until comparatively recent years, however, it 
has not proved very troublesome to Strawberries in this 
country, thongh in America it has been regarded for 
a long time as a formidable pest, being known there as 
S. castagnet. : 
Leaves and fruits are alike affected, and, as in the 
case of its near ally, the Rose Mildew, there is considerable 
curling of the foliage at the margin. Later the fruits are 
attacked, though it is not usually until the crop is prac- 
tically ready for market that its effects are visible to the 
naked eye. The berries attacked are rendered unmarket- 
able. ‘To the grower the first symptoms of attack are 
noticeable in late spring, the foliage curling in the way 
suggested, and afterwards the white mycelium is noticeable, 
especially on the under-surfaces. Quickly conidiophores 
(Fig. 706) with conidia are produced, and the latter are 
scattered broadcast by various agencies, increasing the 
area of infection and giving to the foliage a powdery 
appearance that cannot be mistaken. The berries also 
participate. Towards the end of the season, another form 
of fruit is produced upon the leaf-stalks, known as peri- 
thecia (Fig. 706). These cases, as they may be termed, 
contain spores which, little affected by winter’s cold or 
damp, remain undeveloped until the spring, when they 
are set free and the cycle is commenced anew. The peri- 
thecia remain sometimes upon the plants, and at others 
in the soil in their vicinity. So far no disease-resisting 
variety has yet been produced; but perhaps. this will be 
forthcoming in the future. Some varieties, however, 
appear to be more susceptible than others, those con- 
taining Black Prince blood for instance. — : 
Once the disease has attacked the fruits, nothing can 
be done. ‘The time to spray is directly the leaves are 
observed to be infested in spring. Sulphide of potassium 
in the case of this and similar Mildews has given excellent 
