i9io.] 



Strawberry Leaf-spot. 



477 



bright red later in the season. This peculiar arrangement of 

 a whitish spot bounded by a red ring has given origin to the 

 local name of "Birds' Eye Spot" in some parts of the 

 country (see Plate). The central whitish portion of the patch 

 soon becomes studded with minute tufts of the conidial or 

 Ramularia condition of the fungus. These continue to infect 

 healthy leaves throughout the season. When the infected 

 leaves begin to languish, the conidial condition is followed 

 by the higher or Sphcerella condition of the fungus, the spores 

 of which remain on the dead leaves until the following spring, 

 when they are liberated and infect the young leaves. 



This pest is everywhere present in this country, and is also 

 well known on the Continent and in the United States. None 

 of the cultivated varieties escape the disease, but some are 

 more severely attacked than others. The variety called 

 "Royal Sovereign" is especially susceptible to the disease. 

 When the injury is severe the crop of fruit is much reduced 

 both in quantity and in quality ; the plants are also weakened 

 for the following season. 



If spraying is commenced at a sufficiently early stage (in 

 fact, where the disease has previously existed spraying 

 should commence when the leaves are quite young) an epi- 

 demic may be prevented. The plants should be sprayed with 

 a solution of potassium sulphide (liver of sulphur) in the pro- 

 portion of one ounce to three gallons of water. This treat- 

 ment will also arrest the possible appearance of Strawberry 

 Mildew, Sphcerotheca humuli, Burr. Spraying should be 

 continued at intervals until the flowers begin to open. 



The following method of combating the disease has proved 

 highly satisfactory when strawberry beds are badly rusted. 

 The beds should be mown soon after the fruit is gathered, 

 covering the dry leaves with a sprinkling of straw or dry 

 litter and burning them. This may seem harsh treatment for 

 the plants, but everyone who has tried burning over a straw- 

 berry bed has been surprised by the vigorous and healthy 

 appearance of the new foliage. 



