PACKARD.] 



THE STRAWBERRY CROWN-BORER. 



801 



Jucunda, Pineapple, Early Scarlet, anil Brooklyn Scarlet. While the 

 Wilson stood second to none of these as a prolific fruit bearer, yet it fell 

 behind them in vigorous plant-growth. Hence, while every kind was 

 more or less affected, the other varieties seemed saved by their own 

 growth and energy from a destruction so thorough as was that of the 

 Wilson. These patches were all planted in the spring and all received 

 the same treatment, the ground being kept open and free from weeds. 

 The amount of the s[)ring-planting was seven and a half acres. Of the 

 Wilsons there were three different patches in places quite separated from 

 each other, and on not less than five different kinds of soil. These 

 patches were among and contiguous to those of the other varieties. 

 While all suffered more or less, the chief injury befell the Wilsons, of 

 which not less than two acres were irretrievably ruined. An examina- 

 tion turned up the depredator, who was none other than the larva of 

 the goldsmith beetle, now engaged in the first one of its allotted three- 

 summer campaigns of mischief. These grubs were from the eggs de- 

 posited in June in the well-tilled and clean soil, which, I have said else- 

 where, I thought the Gotalim preferred to meadow or grass lauds. 

 Compared with others, the larva of this beetle is sluggish and easily 

 captured. The black grub of the spring, which is such a pest, attacking 

 almost indiscriminately the early tender plants, inflicts its injuries chiefly 

 in the night, the exception being that of dull and cloudy days. The 

 night's mischief done, it descends intoconcealment at early dawn. Know- 

 ing this, the wise farmer is in search of it at an early hour, ere the warmth 

 of the sun gives it warning to retreat. But the goldsmith grub can be 

 taken at any hour of the day simply by scratching away the earth from 

 around the roots of those plants whose dark, shriveled leaves tell of 

 the enemy's presence. It is my belief that this devastation might have 

 been spared by an outlay of from $20 to $30 for labor, much of which, 

 under proper direction, could have been done by children. Therein 

 would have been saved a s'rawberry-crop for the ensuing summer, worth 

 scarcely less than $2,500, for from this same farm the crop of a single 

 acre has been sold for $1,500. Then, however valuable such labors are 

 in the immediate results, that is but a fraction of their worth as respects 

 the future. These Cotalpa grubs, with all their mischief, had not more 

 than a third of their ultimate size ; hence their real ravenousness is yet 

 to come. Besides, w'hat a prospect of increase of numbers, should even 

 a moderate share of them reach maturity ! Why should not our farmers 

 seek to know something about their insect enemies, and, when practica- 

 ble, put forth some energy to meet such V " 



The Strawberry Crown-Borer, Analcis fragariw Riley. — Boring from the crown 

 of the plant down into and killing it; a small, soft, fleshy grub, transforming to a 

 weevil. 



From the middle of June until the middle of July in Southern 111 

 the grub hatches from an egg, sup- 

 posed to be deposited by the parent 

 weevil in the crown of the plant, 

 and bores downward into the pith, 

 where it remains until fully grown, 

 *' working in the thick, bulbous root, 

 andpfteu eating through the more 

 woody portions; so that when frost 

 sets in, the plant easily breaks oft' ^ ^ 



and is heaved out of the ground." — Fig. 66.— Strawberry Crown -Borer 



(Riley.) A remedy is dilflcult to ^«^^'«- (After Riley.) 



apply, but infested plants should be burned. 

 51 G s 



inois. 



