STRA WBERRIES ENEMIES. 141 



open situation in good soil or be kept in pots. If the latter they should be turned out, 

 partially disrooted, removing the old drainage, and returned to the pots, using good 

 soil, and pressing it firmly. Stand the plants on ashes on a north border for a few 

 days, afterwards in a sunny position, and keep them well supplied with Avater. The 

 earliest forced plants should be potted early in June, the second plants by July, and 

 the third early in August. The first plants will set their fruit outdoors, and they will 

 ripen well in a cool house. The second may be placed in frames in September, with 

 air constantly, and be removed to a house by the middle of October, with a temperature 

 of 50 to 55, affording abundance of air and a genial atmosphere. A temperature of 

 60 to 65 is necessary to swell the fruit properly. The latest plants should be in 

 the frames by early October, and in the house with a temperature of 50 to 55 by 

 November. From these fruit may be had in January. With suitable cultural con- 

 veniences ripe strawberries can be had every month in the year. 



STRAWBERRY ENEMIES. 



Parasitic funyi produce spots on the leaves, at first brownish-red, surrounded by 

 a brighter margin, after a time white in the centre, and in this area lie embedded various 

 black specks, peritheca, containing spores. When very abundant they injure the 

 leaves and weaken the plants. The most prevalent fungus of this group living on the 

 strawberry is the native Leptothyrium fragarise, and the exotic Sphcerella fragariae ; 

 Ascochyta fragariso and Septoria fragarise also occasionally infest the leaves, the spots 

 produced by all being much alike. Plants in clay soils are the most liable to attack. 

 Spraying with Bordeaux mixture before the flowers open, and young plants early in 

 August, is the only means likely to prove effective as a preventive, calculating the 

 strength of the mixture at 1 ounce of copper sulphate to 3J gallons of water. 



Mildew. This is peculiar to some varieties, notably Black Prince, John Euskin, 

 Pioneer, and Sir Joseph Paxton. Drought conduces to attacks outdoors, and a close 

 atmosphere, also sharp currents of air, to infestations under glass. The first is reme- 

 died by soakings of water, mulching, and abundance of food ; the latter by judicious 

 ventilation. Mildew grows from the spores of the strawberry blight fungus (O'idium 

 balsami) ; they are cleared away outdoors by a thorough rain or heavy watering ; 

 indoors by dusting with flowers of sulphur, and afterwards well washing with water 

 from the syringe. 



The fruits, when commeuciug to ripen, are often attacked with " spot," especially 



VOL. III. I I 



