STRAWBERRY DISEASES 421 



The disease is usually less severe in Florida, Louisiana and 

 other southern states. 



In many cases the amount of injury done by the leaf-spot is 

 doubtless over-estimated. Yet it must be remembered that 

 the disease does some damage nearly every year, so that after 

 all the pest is not only one of the most common but also one 

 of the most destructive to strawberries. In certain localities 

 it is of comparatively slight import, while in other places 

 whole plantations have been completely destroyed. In south- 

 ern Illinois, a leading strawberry section, leaf-spot is regarded 

 as one of the worst enemies of this fruit. In Connecticut, one 

 grower is said to have experienced a loss of $250 an acre, while 

 the damage done in 1904 to Maryland strawberries is esti- 

 mated at 21 per cent of the total acreage. This approximates 

 a loss of $50,000. 



In the ordinary cases of attack the foliage is impaired ; in 

 severe cases the leaves are affected to the extent that the plants 

 die. In any case, the prospect for the next year's crop is 

 usually threatened. If the fruit-pedicels are attacked, the 

 berries never mature but remain small, become shriveled and 

 worthless. 



The most serious injury is said to occur on such varieties as 

 the Wilson, Hunn, Beeder Wood, Warfield, Sanafee, Photo, 

 Monmouth and Ohio. The varieties which resist the disease 

 to a noticeable degree are the Marshall, Brandywine, Lady 

 Thompson, Michel's Early, Daisy, Eureka and Jewell. It 

 is not guaranteed, however, that the resistance and susceptibility 

 herein indicated will be found applicable or reliable in all 

 strawberry sections. It is well to bear in mind that ecologic 

 factors may have no little influence in this respect. Accordingly, 

 then, observations as to varietal resistance should be care- 

 fully considered. It is generally held that vigorous plants are 

 no more resistant than the more feeble individuals. It has 

 also been observed that plants growing on heavy, wet, undrained 



