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SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING STR/i^reERRY PLANTS 



The purchase and planting of virus-free ple.nts of those varieties v:hich are 

 available is strongly recommended « Virus-free strawberry plants (with the possible 

 exception of Premier or Horrard 1?) grow more vigorously and give greater yields 

 than do non virus-free plants. 



The growing of virus-free strawberry plants for sale is a specialized job. 

 It reo.uires long range planning and strict control. Special equipment and methods 

 must be fully understood and used properly to obtain plants that can be listed as 

 vjrus-free. It is a job for nurserymen willing to make a special effort to produce 

 virus-free pLints for sale to growers. 



The procedures recommended on the next page are designed to produce plants 

 as nearly virus-free as possible. After plants are removed from a screenhouse 

 and grovm in the field, a very small percentage may become infected v/ith virus. 

 Iherefore, such plants are said to be "essentially" virus-free. You can be sure 

 the plants you buy are "essentially" virus-free only if your nurseryman follows 

 these reconraended practices. 



You can help yourself and the strawberry industry by satisfying yourself that 

 your plant grower is doing the right kind of a job. Reliable nurserymen welcome 

 inquiries and visits by their customers, 



PRACTICES REQUIRED TO PRODUCE VIRUS-FREE STRA.f BERRY PLANTS 



A. FOUNDATION STOCK. (Plants known to be virus-free and used to produce Propagation 



Stock.) 



1, Original stock should come from an approved source of virus-free plants 

 and be free of all other diseases and pests, 



2, Plants should be grovm in a well constructed and properly naintained screen 

 house in which the soil is fumigated and insects are controlled, 



3, Stock should be renewed every second year or "indexed" to be sure it is 

 still virus-free, 



B. PROPAGATION STOCK. (Plants v/hich the nurseryman uses to increase his own supply 



of mother plants to produce "essentially" virus-free Planting Stock .) 



1, The planting should be isolated from all other strawberries, both cultivated 

 and viild. A distance of 3000 feet is very desirable, 



2, The land should have no history of red stele or other soil-bome diseases, 



3, The soil should be fumigated for nematode control, 



U, The plants should come fran virus-free Foundation Stock and oe free of all 

 other diseases and pests, 



5. The planting (and all nearby stravrberry plants) should receive the complete , 

 recommended dust or spray program to control aphids which carry virus. 



