512 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Strawberry continued. 



be determined by the total intended to be forced, the 

 space available, and other conditions that are mostly of 

 individual, and not general, application. Forced plants 

 of Vicomtesse H. de Thury Strawberry are sometimes 

 induced to bear a second crop in the following autumn. 

 They are reduced a little at the root, then potted up 

 afresh, and grown on either outside or in frames. 

 Towards autumn, a second crop of flowers appears; and 

 if they set well, the fruits can be ripened with fire-heat, 

 and a fairly good crop secured, that proves invaluable 

 for dessert, even if of second-rate quality, so far out of 

 the natural season. The variety above named is pecu- 

 liarly noted for this method of treatment; none of the 

 others that are forced are adapted for autumn fruiting 

 with the same degree of certainty. 



Insects, tfc. Few species have been recorded as 

 noticeably injurious to the Strawberry; but this 

 plant, like almost all other garden herbs, is liable to 

 have the leaves and flower-buds eaten by Surface 

 Caterpillars, and the roots devoured by larvae of 

 Cockchafers, and species of Otiorhynchus, especially 

 of 0. sulcatus. Information in regard to the insects, 

 and the best means of lessening the damage done by 

 them, will be found under the headings indicated. 



In Ormerod's " Eeport of Injurious Insects," for 1883, is 

 an account of serious damage done near Chester, in May 

 and June, by the larvae of a small Moth called in the 

 Eeport the "Strawberry-leaf Button Moth," Peronea 

 comparand (?). The flowers and sides of the leaflets 

 were spun together and eaten by the larvae, and the 

 result was that badly-infested plants died. "Young 

 Strawberry-plants of twelve months old are never 

 affected ; two-year-old plants are affected rather badly, 

 but three-year-old plants are invariably ruined." The 

 larva is cylindrical and green, with a pale yellow head, 

 and is rather bristly. The pupa is pale green, with 

 reddish wing-cases and abdomen. The moth, which 

 appears at the end of June, is under fin. in spread of 

 fore wings, which are pale ochreons, with a large, dark 

 brown, triangular blotch running in from the front 

 margin of each wing two-thirds across it ; there is a 

 dark streak inwards from the hind margin near the base 

 of the wing. The hind wings are grey. There is pro- 

 bably a second brood of the insects in autumn. In the 

 "Entomologist" for 1881 (p. 232), an attack, similar to 

 the above, is recorded from near Blairgowrie, in Perth- 

 shire, but the moth is named Peronea aspersana. Yet 

 it is the same species, perhaps, though apparently there 

 is uncertainty about the correct name. Probably, the 

 remedy suggested in the "Eeport" quoted above, of 

 skimming the soil, to remove pupae with it, and with 

 the surface rubbish, would be found useful. 



The leaves of Strawberry- plants that have been forced 

 are liable to serious harm from the Eed Spider (see 

 Tetranychus telarius). During the process of forcing, 

 Strawberries are also invariably attacked by Green Fly, 

 which prove very destructive if not checked at first. 

 Fumigating with tobacco-smoke is the best and most 

 effectual remedy, but this should not be done while the 

 plants are in flower. At any stage before flowering, or 

 after the fruits are set, no danger need be apprehended, 

 provided, of course, that the method of fumigating is 

 properly carried out. 



The fruit of the Strawberry is liable to be eaten by 

 Slugs and Snails (which see), as well as by Milli- 

 pedes, such as Polydesmus and Julus (see Millipedes). 

 Mice, too, often prove very destructive, by nibbling off 

 the fruits before they are ripe, or by eating the seeds, 

 when they are at all prominent, from ripe fruits. 

 Fungi. The Fungi parasitic on Strawberries are few 

 in number, and, so far as experience goes, not seriously 

 hurtful to the plants. The most conspicuous in their 

 effects produce spots on the leaves, sometimes in very 



Strawberry continued. 



great profusion. The spots are at first brownish-red, 

 surrounded by a brighter red margin. After a time, the 

 centre becomes white, by separation of the epiderm 

 from the lower tissues, and because of the presence of 

 air below it. In the white area lie imbedded various 

 minute, black specks, which the microscope shows to be 

 pycnidia inclosing sporidia, or perithecia, with spores in 

 asci. The only Fungus of this group recorded from 

 Britain as living on the Strawberry is Leptothyrium 

 Fragarice, which has minute, cylindrical sporidia (each 

 with four or five dots in it) in its pycnidia. On the 

 Continent there have also been recorded : Ascochyia 

 Fragarice, with two-celled sporidia; Phoma fragaricola, 

 with one-celled, small sporidia; Septoria Fragarice, with 

 three-septate sporidia; and Sphcerella Fragarice, with 

 two-celled spores in asci. The spots produced by all 

 these are much alike; and it is doubtful in how far the 

 various Fungi belong to species really distinct among 

 themselves. When very abundant, they injure the leaves, 

 and thus weaken the plants. It has been observed that 

 plants on clay soils are more liable to attack, and that, 

 if transferred to more open soil, they become almost 

 free from the Fungi. No direct remedy is known, but 

 the plants, though weakened, are seldom killed by the 

 disease. 



The fruits, when beginning to decay, in damp places, 

 are often overgrown with moulds. The best preventive 

 is the freer admission of air. 



Sorts. Of the hybrid or large-fruited Strawberry so 

 largely cultivated in gardens, a selection of sorts ia 

 subjoined, which includes those generally grown for 

 forcing, and for early, mid-season, and late crops out- 

 side. Where the object is to give only a selection, and 

 there are so many to choose from, it is not unlikely that 

 some of those omitted are of equal merit with others 

 included. Alpine Strawberries (F. vesca monophylla) 

 are represented in Eed and White varieties. The Bush 

 Alpine is a distinct Strawberry, inasmuch as the plants 

 produce no runners. There are red and white forms of 

 this, which may be raised from seeds or increased by 

 means of division. The fruits of the Hautbois Straw- 

 berry (F . elatior) possess a peculiar and strong flavour, 

 which is disagreeable to some people, but much liked 

 by others. A few plants are generally grown in 

 gardens, but rarely a quantity. Eunners are freely pro- 

 duced, and afford a ready means of raising or increasing 

 a stock. 



Bicton Pine. Fruit creamy-white, sometimes tinged with red 

 where exposed to the sun, large ; flesh white, juicy, of fairly 

 good flavour. Mid-season. Plant very productive, of compact 

 habit. 



Black Prince. Fruit dark red, shining, changing almost to 

 black when quite ripe, small ; seeds prominent. The plant is a 

 free bearer, and forces well. It is valued, both for forcing 

 and outdoor culture, on account of its earliness. 



British Queen.* Fruit light scarlet, but not always uniform in 

 colour, frequently very large, often flattened ; flesh white, very 

 juicy and richly flavoured. When well grown, this may justly 

 be designated the best of all Strawberries ; but the plant is 

 tender, and does not always succeed and bear satisfactorily. It 

 is much esteemed as a late variety for forcing. 



Dr. Hogg.* Fruit light red, cockscomb-shaped, very large; 

 flesh pale pinkish-white, solid, very rich. The plant has much 

 the appearance of BRITISH QUEEN, but is much hardier, rather 

 later, and more prolific than that variety. 



Elton. Fruit dark red or crimson, large ; flesh red throughout, 

 firm, briskly acid ; plant very hardy, vigorous, and prolific. A 

 valuable late variety, specially adapted for preserving ; it is an 

 almost certain bearer, and ripens in long succession. 



Frogmore Late Fine. Fruit dark red, very large. This ripens 

 about the same time as ELTON, and is of better flavour than 

 that variety. Plant of free-bearing habit. 



James Veitch. Fruit bright vermilion, very large and hand- 

 some ; flesh solid, rich and juicy. Plant very robust. A mid- 

 season variety ; it sometimes produces fruit of unusual size. 



Keen's Seedling.* Fruit dark crimson next the sun, large, 

 roundish ; flesh scarlet, rich and agreeably flavoured. This is an 



