Application of parathion with 3-row duster. 



Pigging plants with 2-row potato digger. 



VIHDS-FREE STRAWBERRIES 



Roger H. Lewis of Andover, Essex 

 graduate of '25, is using several in- 

 genious methods for the production of 

 virus-free strawberry plants. Roger 

 built the first and only screen house 

 in Essex County for the production of 

 vims-free stock last spidng. 



Fovir varieties, Catskill, Howard 

 17, Robinson and Sparkle, were grown 

 in 1954. These four varieties plus 

 Fairfax, Midland and Stelemaster are 

 now being propagated in the field. 



In order to prevent infection 

 ly the strawberry aphid which carries 

 the virus, Roger dusted all strawberry 

 plantings at weekly intervals, using 

 a ton of parathion in 1954^» 



In order to speed up the digging 

 of plants Roger has adapted a two-row 

 potato digger for loosening the plant 

 beds. 



To get ideal growing conditions 

 for plants, Roger uses large quanti- 

 ties of farm manure, cover crops and 

 rotation with vegetables. Irrigation 

 is used as needed throughout the grow- 

 ing season from the nearby Merrimac 

 River. All vegetable and strawberry 

 crops are bedded in 60" beds, this 

 giving ideal soil with no compression 

 from tractor and other tools. 



The screenhouse soil has been fumigated and is now growing stock plants of the 

 following virus- free varieties: Howard 17, Sparkle, Catskill, Robinson, Red Star, 

 Empire, and Armore. 



Roger plans to fumigate all soil used in the field production of virus-free 

 strawberry plants this fsill to give nematode- free stock. He has built a fumigation 

 chamber for treatment of cyclamen mite. Roger's goal is to have virus-nematode 

 cyclejuen-fflite free plants for sale as soon as possible. 



them. 



It appears that when better strawberry plants are grown, Roger Lewis will have 



-CO. Cartwright 



