The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-19
In the smalI-Frnit Garaen.

Strawberry plants may be set either in the
spring or fall, and unless potted plants are
used the owner must wait at least year be-
fore fruit may be expected, The soil should
be enriched with well-rotted manure, and
the plants set in rows. If large patch is
set it is best to have the rows wide enough
to allow the passage of the horse and cult
vator. 1t requires but little more skill to
raise Strawberries than beans or potatoes
There are number of new sorts, the lead
ing of which are the "James Wick" and
"MaDchester." The older and well tested
varieties, of which the "Charles Downing
is a standard for flavor, and the NELSON"
for productiveness, should make up the larg-
er part of the bed II does not pay to run
risks with new sorts, besides the plants of
novelties cost much more than of old well
known sorts.
The old beds should be kept clear of
weeds, and given good coat of straw or
marsh hay before the berries form, that thew
may not come in contact with the soil and
be injured. The white grub is perhaps the
most destructive insect pest to the straw
berry plant. This grub works under
ground, and its presence is not known until
the work is done. When strawberry plant
willis, take it up, and its roots will be found
eaten off and past recovery. The enemy
may be found near by and should be re-
moved and killed before it has time to 90 to
another hill and continue the destructive
work.
The strawberry worm is small slender,
pale green worm that eats the leaves full of
holes, and sometimes is quite destructive.
The mature insect is a small black 1y that
is more common in the west than in the
east. The best remedy suggested is to dust
the leaves with lime, when wet with dew, or
Just after a rain.
The young canes of the blackberry and
raspberry plants start very early. It is
much better to set these plants in the au-
tumn. The next year fruit is borne on the
young canes of the present year, and they
should be looked to accordingly. Let only
eight grow TO make a good hill, treating all
bear this years crop should be tied up. and
the young growing canes need to be cut back
after reaching sufficient height. The old
canes are to be cut away as soon as the ber-
ries are out of the way
The blackberry is troubled with horers
the most common of which is the larva Of a
red necked beetle (Obereo perspiceiIoto !
These grrbs bore into the pith of the canes,
and weaken them SO that they are broken
down by the winds. All sucn infested canes
should be gathered and burned.
The leading enemy to the raspberry is the
orange rust. This is parasitic fungus that
grows within the substance of the leaves.
and produces a large crop of orange colored
spores or seeds upon the ruptured surface.
This pest is not easily detected until its de-
structiye work is done and the only way is
to dig up the infested plants and burn Them
To leave rusted plants in the rows is great
mistake, as the trouble will spread and soon
the whole may become worthless.
There is a small cricket that prefers to
lay its eggs in the pith Of the raspberry.
The eggs are deposited In a neat row and
the punctures so weaken the canes that
they are easily broken off by the wind.
The mature insect eats the foliage. The
only method thus far found Of destroying
this pest is to burn the eggs.
The currant or gooseberry bushes should
nave peen thlnned out early in the spring,
ana ought 10 be clear of all grass or weeds