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1 Dec., 1897.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 449 
The strawberry, in the Melbourne district, is subject to a number of insect pests 
and other diseases. The worst of the former is a native beetle which bores through 
and along the stems out to the crown, thus destroying the plant very quickly, and 
rendering it necessary to plough in the plants every three or four years and replant 
in a clean place. Ihave several times tried replanting on the same land after several 
years have elapsed, while the land has borne other crops or has lainin grass, but never 
succeeded satisfactorily in getting any good from it. In some years, the fruit is very 
much destroyed by slugs. Ihave generally used chimney-soot for slugs and thrips 
(when in flower) with success. 
There is again the “root fungus,” a white substance that spreads over the roots 
and neck of the plant and soon kills it; and again what I call “ wire fungus,” because 
it is like a small black wire. This knits itself around the roots and neck of the plant, 
and fairly throttles it to death in a week or so. : é 
Where land is known or suspected to contain those fungi, a good dressing of lime 
and kainit, ploughed in during the last ploughing before planting, I have found a good 
deterrent for those: plagues. 
T do not know that I can say anything more on strawberry culture. Ihave heard 
it stated by some of my acquaintances, that it is necessary to have plants that bear 
male flowers, to impregnate the female flower with pollen, so that good bearing will be 
assured ; but as I have never found a plant in my place that did not bear when it had 
the chance, I came to the conclusion that Nature had provided what was necessary 
without my intervention. For all that, I have not the slightest doubt that, in many 
cases, it is necessary to search into and closely investigate those little tricks of Nature 
with a view of knowing how to twist them to one’s own benefit and pleasure. 
If irrigation is contemplated, care should be taken to lay out the lands so that 
water would run along the drills under the mulching. I have found a command of 
water in a dry spring of great value. . 
I may also state that this paper does not apply to hand culture. For hand 
culture the distances apart would very materially differ, as would also the method 
of planting and the shape of the land. 
