237 



Strawberry 



Among the fruits raised for commercial sale in Illinois the straw- 

 berry occupies a leading position — second, it is said, only to the apple. 

 That this is true may be understood if it be remembered that in addition 

 to extensive areas of production for large-city markets there is usually 

 one gardener at least near every town of any size who maintains a patch 

 ranging from half an acre to five or more acres to supply the seasonal 

 demands of the town. 



According to the U. S. Census report for 1920 there were in the 

 state 49.")8 acres given over to strawberry culture from which (1,901,199 

 quarts of berries were harvested. The regional distribution of commer- 

 cial production corresponds to that of the acreage devoted to straw- 

 berry culture, which is shown on Map 93. There is a considerable con- 

 centration of strawberry production in western Illinois in Adams, Han- 

 cock, and McDonough counties ; in northern Illinois in Winnebago 

 county ; in central Illinois in Macon and Sangamon counties ; and south- 

 ward in Williamson and Johnson counties. The greatest commercial 

 production occurs, however, in Pulaski county (480 acres), Fayette 

 county (:J.'30 acres), Union county (310 acres), and Marion county (160 

 acres). 



According to the U. S. Bureau of Markets, commercial acreage 

 during the years 1918-1923, inclusive, ranged from .'iOOO to 3590 acres, 

 yielding from 48 to 70 crates of 24 quarts each, per acre. The total an- 

 nual yield of the state for this period ranged from 383 to .jB(i cars of 

 400 crates each. 



According to the same authority the croj) of 1921 — some 17.3. (iOO 

 crates — sold for $3.77 per crate, making a total value of $062,245 for 

 the commercial crop reported on. This statement includes only about 

 three fourths of the acreage reported in the census tables, and a total 

 value for the entire state of nearly $883,000 is a reasonable estimate. 



Mycosphaerella Leaf-Spot 

 Caused by Mycosphaerella fnujariac (Schw.) Lind. 



Leaf spot is the one extremely imijortant strawberry disease com- 

 monly occurring in Illinois. It is limited, for the most part, to the leaves, 

 on which it produces spots which are at first minute, purplish red, and 

 apparent only on the upper surface. Later they enlarge and show on 

 both surfaces as circular spots with a small light-brown central area 

 surrounded by a distinct purplish ring. .'\n abundance of them on a leaf 

 often causes its death. 



S])ots of similar apjiearance often occur on the leaf and on fruit 

 stems, and when on the latter they miy so weaken it as to reduce the 

 size and quality of the fruit. 



