84 SMALL FRUIT CULTURIST. 



devour them ; consequently they often become very abun- 

 dant in such places. If these grass lands are plowed and 

 planted with the Strawberry, the grubs will attack the 

 roots, and, if numerous, will destroy every plant almost 

 as soon as it is put in the ground. In some sections of 

 the country the white grub has very materially checked 

 the cultivation of the Strawberry. The only remedy 

 with which I am acquainted is, to occupy the ground 

 with some crop which requires considerable hoeing and 

 cultivation, for two or three years before planting with 

 the Strawberry. 



The grub is said to be three or four years in attaining 

 its growth, and by continually manipulating the soil they 

 are exposed to the attacks of birds, and many are de- 

 stroyed by crushing ; besides this, the Beetles will seldom 

 deposit their eggs in freshly disturbed soil. A few 

 years since I experienced considerable difficulty in 

 planting a Strawberry bed upon a piece of land that had 

 been an old pasture. The grubs were almost victorious 

 the first two seasons ; but the third year they entirely dis- 

 appeared, and I had no trouble from them thereafter. 



Mr. Harris, in his " Insects Injurious to Vegetation," 

 says " that this white grub is the larva 

 of the May Beetle, which is so often 

 seen flying about in the evening." 



Figure 25 shows one of the beetles 

 of natural size. " It is of a chestnut- 

 brown color, smooth, but finely punc- Fig. 25. MAY BEETLE. 

 tured that is, covered with little impressed dots, as if 

 pricked with the point of a needle, each wing-case has two 

 or three slightly elevated, longitudinal lines ; the breast is 

 clothed with yellowish down." The grubs are greedily 

 devoured by birds ; the crow being exceedingly fond of 

 them. This much abused bird will always seek them on 

 recently plowed ground, where, I regret to say, many a 

 crow has lost his life while devouring the White Grub; 



