PICKING BI,OSSOMS. 
It is of the utmost importance that blossoms be 
removed on spring set plants as soon as the buds 
start. The production of pollen or receiving fluid 
of the pistil is the most devitalizing and exhaustive 
process the plant is ever called upon to perform. 
They fomi all their fruit buds in the fall ready 
to bloom out on the first warm days of spring. We 
then take them up for transplanting and before they 
can make roots to sustain them the devitalizing 
process begins and is sure to lessen fruiting vigor. 
We are always very particular about this. It will 
retard the growth all summer, and greatly shorten 
next season's crop of fruit. 
INSECTS. 
The only insect likely to do serious damage in 
strawberries is the white grub or larvae of the May 
beetle. The larvae feed on the roots of old grass 
and are oft ^n found so thick in old June grass sod 
or pasture as to destroy it. They are passionately 
fond of strawberry roots and great care should be 
exercised not to set plants on ground infested with 
them. They remain in this larval state for two or 
three years, doing tlie most damage the second 
season. 
Grubs similar to these are often found in manure 
and old wood, but that kind does not eat roots and 
is therefore harmless. As there are .so many kinds 
it will be safer to send some of those found in your 
ground to the entomologist at your State Agricul- 
tural College and ascertain if they are the true May 
beetle. Tliey can be sent by mail. They very 
rarely or never lay their eggs in fresh cultivated 
ground so that if the land has been in any hoed 
crop for one or two years previous there will be no 
danger. Rxamine old strawberry beds carefully 
before resetting. 
SPRAYING. 
All blight and rust are of a fungus growth. 
Strawberry rust or leaf blight has been the worst 
scourge growers have ever had to contend with. It 
is widely spread throughout the country, It multi- 
plies by means of spores which are carried on the 
leaves and during unfavorable weather, especially 
when showers are followed by bright sunshine it 
spreads very fast. The foliage of most of our heavy 
fruiting varieties are especially sensitive to it. It is 
safe to say there are no plants in the country free 
from this scourge unles they have been sprayed and 
these spores destroyed. I am confident if the pro- 
pagating bed is thoroughly sprayed during the 
summer with Bordeaux Mixture that the spores, 
will be so far destroyed that rust cannot manifest, 
itself on plants when they come into fruiting. A 
plant with its leaves covered with this fungus can- 
not digest its food so as to mature fruit. The 
leaves are the digestive organs of the plant and if 
diseased or injured the plant can make no growth. 
It is settled definitely that no fungi (rust) can 
live when it comes in contact with copper sulphate 
— Bordeaux MLxture. 
We use the Eclipse sprayer, made by Morrill & 
Morley, Benton Harbor, Mich. It covers every 
leaf with tlie finest mist so that no spores of fungi 
or insects can escape. 
The new atomizer which can be had at any hard- 
ware store for $1.25 or of Morrill & Morley is a 
hand machine of great value and very cheap Itis 
sufficient for the propagating bed and can be used 
on quite a large area. 
For spraying raspberries, blackberries and other 
bush fruits large wheels are put on the cart so it 
can pass over the row. One nozzle shoots the spray 
down on the top while one on each side sends it 
against and under every leaf. A high pressure on 
the pump puts on the finest mist. It is easy to ad- 
vertise healthy plants free from fungi but they can- 
not be furnished unless sprayed. 
The State Inspector visited our grounds last fall 
and after carefully examining all the different 
