96 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



by their absence from the expense account of the strawberry grower. 

 But very few if any strawberry growers ever spray. This does 

 not mean that this fruit is immune from attacks of insects or 

 fungi, but it emphasizes the truth of the statement just made as 

 to comparative freedom from such troubles. The rotation is so 

 short — the shortest of all the small fruits — that the pests are 

 scarcely able to obtain a foothold. White grubs are occasionally 

 troublesome, being the larvae from the "June bugs," and are most 

 abundant in grass lands, which should be avoided as far as possible, 

 although fall plowing may destroy some of the insects. Leaf rollers 

 are sometimes in evidence, small, brownish caterpillars which roll 

 or fold over a portion of the leaf, feeding within the protecting fold. 

 Arsenate of lead, applied before the insect is protected or burning 

 the beds after fruiting and if necessary, a later arsenical spray will 

 destroy many of the insects in cases of severe infestations. The 

 strawberry weevil occasionally puts in an appearance. Unfortu- 

 nately, the egg which hatches into a whitish grub is laid in the 

 flower bud where the grub feeds on the pollen. No satisfactory 

 remedy can be given. Burning over the beds, clean culture, and a 

 quick rotation furnish some relief. 



Among diseases, leaf spot is the most serious trouble, but is 

 dependent on certain weather conditions. Good air and soil- 

 drainage with selection of somewhat resistant varieties aid in 

 reducing the amount of injury. In severe cases, spraying with 

 bordeaux mixture (3-3-50) as growth begins and again just before 

 blossoming time will be found beneficial. Arsenate of lead may be 

 combined for insect troubles. A quick rotation already referred to, 

 tends to keep down both insects and disease. 



Picking and marketing. Well begun is half done; yet the straw- 

 berry grower is scarcely more than half done when the fruit reaches 

 maturity. There yet remains the task of picking, packing, ship- 

 ping, and marketing the fruit, during which time the grower is 

 largely at the mercy of weather conditions entirely beyond control. 

 Here again, details vary to suit the locality or the whim or notion 

 of the grower and are almost as various as the number of growers; 

 but all are agreed on the importance of having the fruit arrive at 

 its destination in good condition, free from bruises, well colored, 

 fairly uniform in size of berry, packed neatly in clean, attractive- 



