24 A B C OF STRAWBERRY CULTURE 



sent for them, and set them out alone, and the dealer would 

 have said nothing, supposing, of course, that he knew what be 

 was ordering.* 



Some varieties of strawberries are subject to blight, or rust, 

 on the leaves. This usually injures the growth and yield more 

 or less. But a variety that fails from rust in one locality, or 

 under certain treatment, may be all right in another place, or 

 when grown under different conditions. The Sterling berry is 

 one of the very finest I have, to yield, in thin matted rows ; 

 but it utterly fails in hills, from rust. The rust first appears in 

 the form of little dark spots on the leaves, which may increase 

 until the leaves all die. I hardly think there is any practical 

 remedy yet, although some have told me of applications that 

 would stop the disease. The best practical remedy is to grow 

 those kinds that do not rust on such soil as yours. Two or 

 three varieties that I have tried were rendered almost worthless 

 by rust, while the Bubach, Jessie, and Haverland are almost 

 entirely free from it. 



By this time you may think you had better buy your 

 plants, when first beginning, of a perfectly reliable man who 

 will study to send you what is best for you. Now, that is just 

 right. Do not buy any cheap plants, or of a man whom you 

 have any fear might send you whatever he had on hand any 

 way. Do not take plants as a gift, out of some old bed of a 



* I confess that I have, until this season, been a little skeptical in re- 

 gard to the importance of planting as above ; but a year ago, wishing 

 some Bubachs near the office, that we might take up plants without go'iig 

 to the fields, I planted two rows right in sight of where I am writing now. 

 The ground was heavily manured, and they made a great profusion of 

 runners, which have been used for filling orders. At the time I did it, I 

 had only plants in mind, not thinking of fruit ; and when it occurred to 

 me that no other berries were near, I concluded I would wait and see if 

 they would bear fruit. The fruit is now ripening, but the berries are 

 small, gnarly, and knotted, and there is scarcely a perfect one in the 

 patch, although the growth of foliage is equal to any I ever saw. Our Bu- 

 bachs out in the fields are giving monstrous berries in great quantities, 

 with no knotted or gnarly ones among them. In the fertilized plot, a 

 great many of the berries are simply little knots, or knobs. I give this 

 for the benefit of those who, like myself, think there is some humbug or 

 superstition in regard to the fertilization of strawberries. A. I. R. 



