22 MAY 1953, Page 22

Strawberry Time

A friend who had a fine lot of strawberry-plants last season °15, puzzled when he picked little fruit. Half-way through the ripe011,; he put' down strawberry mats, and discovered that his enemies We:1, not only slugs but birds. Strawberries do better with mats than 011:0 straw because the mats give less shelter for insects and thole that 'd beneath the mats are easily discovered. The bed must be netted Olio the nets supported or, the birds can take fruit through the 111°',4 Where mats are uneconomical, fruit can be saved by supporting l'