THE BUSH FRUITS 215 



and later, in the beetle form, upon the leaves, often doing 

 much harm. The remedy for these two little pests is to 

 grow only one crop on the land each year, planting a bed 

 each spring, harvesting the crop the following year, and 

 plowing under the tops, mulch and all, while the larvae 

 are feeding upon the roots. Spraying with Paris green 

 and the Bordeaux mixture may kill many of them, but 

 this is hardly needed as plowing the immature larvae 

 will destroy most of them. 



The strawberry blight is the only serious fungous pest 

 met with. This comes upon the plants at any time from 

 planting to the ripening of the fruit when the weather 

 is moist and warm and the plants are not in a vigorous 

 and active condition. It appears as small reddish- 

 brown spots upon the leaves and when numerous causes 

 them to dry up. The remedy is to begin with the young 

 plants before they are set by dipping them in the Bor- 

 deaux mixture, and spraying once or twice after during 

 the summer. Then the following spring spray as soon 

 as the mulch is drawn off, and again before the blos- 

 soms open. 



The strawberry crop is especially the crop for the 

 beginner, or one starting in business upon a new place, 

 because in twelve to fifteen months from planting a crop 

 may be expected, and from a few plants we may in a 

 year or two grow enough to plant acres, and at the 

 same time produce fruit for market. 



