'J^ SUCCESS WITH SMALL FRUITS. 



But let him not be premature in his self- felicitation, for 

 he may find in his sod ground, especially if it be old 

 meadow land, an obstacle worse than stumps and stones, — 

 the Lachnosterna fused. 



This portentous name may well inspire dread, for the 

 thing itself can realize one's worst fears. The deep, moist 

 loam which we are considering is the favorite haunt of this 

 hateful little monster, and he who does not find it lying in 

 wait when turning up land that has been long in sod, may 

 deem himself lucky. The reader need not draw a sigh of 

 relief when I tell him that I mean merely the *' white grub," 

 the larva of the May-beetle or June-bug, that so disturbs our 

 slumbers in early summer by its sonorous hum and aimless 

 bumping against the wall. This white grub, which the 

 farmers often call the " potato worm," is, in this region 

 the strawberry's most formidable foe, and, by devouring 

 the roots, will often destroy acres of plants. If the plow 

 turns up these ugly customers in large numbers, the only 

 recourse is to cultivate the land with some other crop until 

 they turn into beetles and fly away. This enemy will re- 

 ceive fuller attention in a later chapter. 



It is said that this pest rarely lays its eggs in plowed land, 

 preferring sod ground, where its larvae will be protected 

 from the birds, and will find plenty of grass roots on which 

 to feed. Nature sees to it that white grubs are taken care 

 of, but our Monarch strawberries need our best skill and 

 help in their unequal fight; and if ^'Lachnos'^ and tribe 

 should turn out in force, Alexander himself would be van- 

 quished. 



