138 ABC OF STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 



The only objection that has ever been made to the transplant- 

 ing-tubes is that they would carry insect enemies or disease 

 along with the plant to a new plantation ; whereas if the roots 

 were washed thoroughly from all adhering soil, as friend Terry 

 directs, we should overcome this danger. Where the plants 

 are taken from poor hard ground, I have sometimes found the 

 ball of earth an objection ; but this could be broken up with 

 the fingers, after the plants have got well started. By far the 

 better way, however, is to have your ground very rich where 

 the plants are grown on purpose for taking them to the field. 



DISEASES OF THE STRAWBERRY. 



I do not know of any disease, unless what is termed " rust ' ' 

 may be said to be a disease. This belongs to certain kinds of 

 strawberries, and not to others ; and sometimes a variety will 

 rust in one soil or location where rust is unknown in another. 

 I hardly need tell our readers that rust is the reddish spots that 

 appear on the leaves. They appear like iron rust, and some- 

 times they injure the thriftiness of the plant very materially. 

 The varieties recommended in our book are almost rust-proof ; 

 that is, they are almost if not quite absolutely free from rust in 

 most localities. Sometimes during a severe drouth the leaves 

 curl up, something like the curled leaf on the peach ; but with 

 plenty of rain the new leaves that come out, and the new leaves 

 from young plants, are as bright and straight as any. L,ack of 

 water is generally at the bottom of most difficulties with the 

 strawberry ; and plenty of water, accompanied with plenty of 

 manure, will usually overcome any trouble that may show it- 

 self. 



Perhaps I should add something to what has been already 

 said in regard to irrigation for strawberries. While I agree 

 with friend Terry in regard to what he said about irrigation,! 

 feel quite sure that irrigation will many times pay in getting 

 plants to set out in the field. A windmill and a tank answer 

 excellently for this purpose. A few days ago a neighbor sold 

 me some very nice blackberries. He said he was going home 



