STRAWBERRY 449 



material, forest leaves do well as a mulch between the rows. In the 

 spring the straw should be removed from over the plants and allowed to 

 remain between the rows as a mulch, or all of it may be removed and 

 the soil worked with a cultivator. 



A large crop should be produced the second season ; many persons 

 think it best to renew the plantation each year, but if the plants are 

 healthy and the ground free from grass and weeds, the plantation can 

 often be retained for a second crop. It will be well to plow the soil 

 away from the rows so as to leave but a narrow strip, and along this the 

 old plants should be cut out so as to leave the new plants about 1 

 foot apart. If this is done in July, the rows should fill up by winter, 

 so as to be in about the same condition as a new bed. 



Insects and diseases of the strawberry. 



The insect most commonly troublesome to the strawberry grower is 

 the common June-bug, or May-beetle, the larvae of which are often 

 very common in land that has been in sod. Two years should elapse 

 before sod land is used for this crop. 



Cut-worms are often troublesome, but plowing the land the fall pre- 

 vious to setting the plants will destroy many of them. They can 

 be poisoned by sprinkling about the field clover or other green plants 

 that have been soaked in Paris green water (p. 203). 



The most common fungous disease of the strawberry is leaf-blight 

 or" rust," which frequently causes much injury to the foliage, and may 

 result in the loss of the crop. Varieties least subject to the disease 

 should be chosen for planting, and on suitable soils and well cared 

 for, there need be little loss from this disease if the plantation is fre-. 

 quently renewed. The rust and mildew may be held in check by bor- 

 deaux mixture. It is usually sufficient to spray after the blooming 

 season (or at any time the first year the plants are set), in order to secure 

 healthy foliage for the next year (p. 213). 



Varieties of strawberries. 



For most parts of the country, Haverland, Warfield, Bubach, and 

 Gandy afford a succession and are all hardy and productive varieties. 

 The first three are imperfect-flowered varieties, and some such perfect- 

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