as possible of the later runners should 

 be pulled or cut off. 



Weed Killers. There is much work being 

 done with weed killers at the various 

 State Experiment Stations. We recom- 

 mend that you write the Experiment 

 Station in your state for their recom- 

 mendations for your locality. In the 

 right situation weed killers can be a 

 tremendous help but nobody should set 

 an acreage of plants too large to care 

 for if the weed killers do not do the job. 

 We doubt if chemical weed control is 

 practical or necessary on very small 

 plots. Diphenamid has been one of the 

 most promising materials from our 

 experience and observation. 



Mulches. Mulching is necessary for winter 

 protection in all the northern states and would 

 be helfpul in many fields as far south as Vir- 

 ginia and Kentucky. In addition to giving pro- 

 tection from cold, mulching helps to keep 

 down weeds and grass, to conserve soil 

 moisture and to keep the fruit bright and clean. 



The mulch should be applied in the fall 

 after frost and light freezes (25 to 28 degrees 

 F.) have occurred but before hard freezing (20 

 degrees F. or lower). It should be removed, at 

 least partly, soon after growth starts in the 

 spring. 



Wheat straw and marsh grass are con- 

 sidered the best materials. Rye straw, pine 

 needles, coarse strawy manure and various 

 kinds of hay are satisfactory. In some sections 

 sawdust has been used with good results; 

 also buckwheat hulls. Use whatever you have 

 or can buy at a reasonable price. 



Irrigation. If you have irrigation it will cer- 

 tainly pay to use it for strawberries, espe- 

 cially just before fruiting time. However, irri- 

 gation is not mandatory. Most of the fine berry 

 crops in this country are produced on good 

 strawberry soil that holds moisture well be- 

 cause stable manure and green crops have 

 been added or because of a high water table. 

 Irrigation during the danger hours will save 

 a strawberry crop from severe frost and freeze 

 damage with temperatures as low as 20 de- 

 grees F. during bloom. 



Renewing Old Beds. Most commercial growers 

 pick one crop of strawberries and then de- 

 stroy the planting. Generally this is justified. 

 However, when plantings are on good soil, 

 free from weeds with little insect or disease 

 damage, a second crop may be had econom- 

 ically. To renew beds, don't plow away the 

 old bed. Cultivate middles, remove weeds 

 and grasses and possibly fertilize. On thickly 

 set beds remove some of the excess plants. 

 Don't be afraid of hurting the beds. We have 

 used a heavily weighted (100 lbs.) spike tooth 

 harrow very effectively. Train new runners to 

 any vacant places. Mostly the second crop of 



26 



berries is borne on the same plants that pro- 

 duced the first crop. 



Diseases and Insects. The breeding programs 

 of the U.S.D.A. and the various State Experi- 

 ment Stations have emphasized resistance to 

 various diseases in new selections. Particular 

 emphasis has been directed toward red stele 

 and verticillium wilt. If either of these dis 

 eases is a specific problem where you con- 

 template growing strawberries, selection of a 

 resistant variety is unquestionably your best 

 bet. 



Among the varieties resistant to several 

 races of red stele are Sunrise and Surecrop. 

 Resistance to one race of red stele is in Red- 

 glow, Midway, Temple and Sparkle. 



Strawberry varieties have varying de- 

 grees of resistance to verticillium wilt. This 

 disease is only a problem in some areas of 

 the north and fortunately we have never seen 

 it on our farms here in Maryland. Verticillium 

 wilt, which causes "summer dying" of straw- 

 berry plants, has been particularly bad when 

 strawberry plants have followed a susceptible 

 crop such as tomato, Irish potato, egg plant 

 and pepper. 



Based on Varney's work in New Jersey, 

 the following information is available: Among 

 the resistant varieties are Sunrise, Premier, 

 Catskill, Surecrop Temple, Robinson, Tennes- 

 see Beauty and Superfection. The varieties 

 with an intermediate degree of resistance in- 

 clude Blakemore, Fairfax, Redglow, Empire 

 and Albritton. The most susceptible variety 

 to verticillium wilt is Earlidawn. Among those 

 varieties with a high degree of suspectibility 

 are Dixieland, Midland, Missionary, Midway, 

 Pocahontas, Armore, Jerseybelle, Sparkle and 

 Redstar. 



Strawberry insects injure plants in vari- 

 ous ways by feeding on flowers, flower buds, 

 leaves, stems and roots. Some may injure 

 and destroy the fruit. Most insects can be 

 effectively controlled if discovered and iden- 

 tified in time. 



The use of chlorodane or aldrin to kill 

 ants, cutworms and grubworms is one of the 

 things that the small grower can do. It is 

 combined with the fertilizer for general appli- 

 cation before plants are set and applied at 

 the rate of about 10 lbs. per acre of the actual 

 material in the case of chlorodane. 



Space does not permit a complete dis- 

 cussion of other strawberry disorders. If a 

 problem arises we suggest you contact your 

 local County Agent and your State Experi- 

 ment Station for pamphlets and recommenda- 

 tions. The U. S. Department of Agriculture has 

 two bulletins which are quite good. Farmers' 

 Bulletin No. 2140 (Strawberry Diseases) and 

 Farmers' Bulletin No. 2184 (Strawberry In- 

 sects) can be obtained from the Superintend- 

 ent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing 

 Office, Washington 25, D. C, for 15$ and 100 

 respectively. 



