272 



Strawberry-Growing 



Root-rot. 



Some years, especially from 1902 to 1908, the root-rot or "black 

 root" has been serious, mainly in New York, Michigan and Massa- 

 chusetts. When the berries are about half grown the plants wilt 

 and turn yellow; the roots are decayed. Most of this trouble is 

 due to winter injury, but a bacterial disease is associated with it in 

 some cases. Poor culture, lack of fertihty, the crowding of plants 

 in the row, insufficient mulching and wet land are favorable for this 

 trouble. 



INJURIOUS INSECTS AND THEIR CONTROL 



Weevil {Anthonomus signatus). 



Before the flower-buds open, those that are infested droop over, 

 wither, and in a few days most of them break off and fall to the 



Fig. 18. — Work of the weevil, a, fruit-stalk with punctured buds ; 

 6, wilting buds ; c, egg ; d, lava ; /, pupa, all three enlarged ; g, flower 

 with feeding punctures. 



ground; a few hang by shreds (Fig. 18). A small white grub is 

 feeding inside. The weevil is prevalent east of the Rocky Mountains ; 

 it is especially serious in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North 



