The Small Fruits. 165 



248. The §:ooseberry mildew {Sphceroflma Mors-uvce) 

 attacks the young foliage and fruits, causing the leaves to 

 shrivel, and forming a cobweb-like covering over them. 

 Later, the aflFected parts become whitish, as if sprinkled 

 with a white powder. The diseased shoots often branch 

 freely, and affected berries generally drop before maturity. 

 The European varieties are most affected. 



Treatment. This disease, being a surface fungus, is read- 

 ily prevented by timel}'' applications. The bushesm ay be 

 sprayed early with Bordeaux mixture, but as the fruit 

 forms, a colorless fungicide should be substituted. Weekly 

 applications of a solution of potassium sulfide (liver of 

 sulfur), at the rate of half an ounce to one gallon, have 

 given excellent results. Dissolve the sulfide in a little 

 hot (not boiling) water, adding the solution to the larger 

 quantity of water. 



Section 3 — The Straivhemj . 



249. The strawberry is regarded as one of the most de- 

 licious of temperate fruits. As its low habit enables it to 

 be readily protected in winter, it may be grown in colder 

 climates than most other fruits. Its cultural range ex- 

 tends over all of the cultivated parts of the United States 

 and Canada. It comes into bearing sooner after planting 

 than any other perennial fruit plant, and since its adop- 

 tion into culture it has always been popular with the am- 

 ateur. 



The strawberries now cultivated nearly all belong to the 

 species Fragaria Chiloensis, var. ananassa. This species 

 inclines to be more or less dioecious, i. e., to produce the 

 stamens and pistils on different plants, rather than in the 

 same flower, hence the garden varieties, which come from 

 seedling plants, often bear imperfect flowers. 



