In some strawberry growing centers, especially sections where 
berries have been grown on a considerable scale for years, “red stele” 
has become a very serious threat to the whole industry. In this virus 
disease the stele, which is the duct in the center of the root and normal- 
ly white in a healthy plant, turns a reddish brown and dies. The top of 
the plant is thus cut off from all nourishment, withers and dies. This 
seems to occur just at bearing time, and in many cases a very nice pros- 
pect for fruit has been ruined within a few days. 
In some cases the situation has become so serious that growers 
have been forced to drop the varieties they have long been using. At 
best, the grower is forced to plant disease-free plants on new ground, or 
use varieties which are not susceptible to “red stele’ or are not affected 
by it. The best of theSe new varieties Seem to be Fairland, Vermilion 
and Temple. 
FAIRLAND 
The performance of many of the newer varieties of strawberries 
seems to vary a great deal with latitude, or distance north and south. 
Thus the Fairland seems to do best in the latitude of northern Indiana, 
or roughly in what we call the Premier territory. 
Fairland foliage is of the Premier type, with broad, light colored, 
cupped leaves growing close to the ground, but making a nice full row 
of large plants. 
The berries are large, very nice bright color, and total yield is 
satisfactory. Firm enough to handle, quality fair to good. 
A good commercial berry for northern climates and where there is 
trouble with red stele. 
VERMILION 
In a series of tests at the University of Illinois where it was deve- 
loped, Vermilion has performed very well in competition with our best 
varieties, in addition to being red stele resistant. 
Plant growth is moderately vigorous, making just a nice full row 
of large plants. 
The fruit is not extra large, but of uniform good size, bright red. 
There is apt to be some green on the under side of the first berries to 
ripen, but Jater ones are of better color. 
Both yield and quality fair to good. A good variety for at least a 
trial in a commercial way. 
r 
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