184 
12 inches in length, according to strength and situation; those 
of moderate extent and regular growth will require very little 
shortening, and many none at all. Observe, too close cutting or 
general shortening, occasions a great superfluity of wood in 
summer; for the multiplied laterals thus forced from the eyes 
of the shortened branches, increase to a thicket, so as to retard 
the growth, and prevent the full ripening of the fruit; on which 
account it is an important part of pruning to keep the middle of 
the head open and clear, and to let the occasional shortening of 
the shoot be sparing and moderate. Between the bearing 
branches keep a regular distance of at least 6 inches at the ex- 
tremities, which will render them fertile bearers of good fruit. 
Some persons, not pruning the gooseberry bush on right prin- 
ciples, are apt to leave the shoots excessively close and tufted, 
while they shorten the whole promiscuously ; others sometimes 
clip them with garden shears to close round heads; in conse- 
quence of being pruned in these methods, the bushes shoot 
crowdedly, full of young wood in summer, from which the fruit 
is always very small, and does not ripen freely with full flavour.” 
Forsyth says, “ Many of the Lancashire sorts are apt to grow hori- 
zontally, and the branches frequently trail on the ground, which 
renders them liable to be broken by high winds, especially when 
they are loaded with fruit. In that case I would recommend 2 
or 3 hoops to be put round them, to which the branches may 
be tied to support them, and prevent their being broken by the 
wind.” S. Jeeves has tried training gooseberries on an arched 
trellis in the manner of a berceau or arbour-walk. For this 
purpose he plants in rows, 54 feet apart, and the plants 3 feet 
distant in the row. He chooses the strongest growing kinds, 
and trains 4 branches at 9 inches distance from each plant, till 
they meet at the top. The advantages of this plan are beauty 
of appearance, fruit not splashed by rain, easily gathered, and 
the ground more readily cultivated. 
Insects and diseases, &c.—The caterpillars of saw-flies (Ten- 
thredinide, Leach), of butterflies (Papilia, Lin.), and of moths 
(Phaleena, Lin.), are well known as serious enemies to goose- 
berries. The larvee of the Tenthredinidz have from 16 to 20 
feet, a round head, when touched they will roll themselves to- 
gether. They feed on the leaves of the gooseberry, apple, and 
most fruit trees, as well as on roses, and other shrubs and plants. 
When full grown they make, sometimes in the earth, and some- 
times between the leaves of the plants on which they feed, a 
net-work case, which, when complete, is strong and gummy, and 
in that change to the pupa incomplete, which for the most part 
remains during the winter in the earth. The perfect fly 
emerges early in the ensuing spring; its serrated sting is used 
by the female in the manner of a saw, to make incisions in the 
twigs or stems of plants, where it deposits its eggs. The Cale- 
donian Horticultural Society having requested information re- 
specting the best method of preventing or destroying the cater- 
pillar on gooseberries, received various communications on the 
subject, and the following are extracts from such as they deemed 
fit for publication. 
J. Gibb describes the large black, the green, and the white 
caterpillar, with his methods of destroying them :— 
“ During the winter months the large black kind may be ob- 
served lying in clusters on the under parts, and in the crevices 
of the bushes; and even at this season (Feb.) I find them in 
that state. In the course of 8 or 10 days, however, if the 
weather be favourable, they will creep up in the day time, feed 
on the buds, and return to their nest during the night. When- 
ever leaves appear upon the bushes they feed upon them till 
they arrive at maturity, which is generally in the month of June; 
after which they creep down upon the under sides of the 
branches, where they lodge till the crust or shell is formed over 
them. In July they become moths, and lay their eggs on the under 
GROSSULARIEZ. 
I. Rises. 
side of the leaves and bark. The produce of these eggs, coming 
into life during the month of September, feed on the leaves so 
long as they are green, and afterwards gather together in clusters 
on the under side of the branches, and in the crevices of the 
bark, where they remain all the winter, as already said. Winter 
is the most proper time for attacking this sort with success, as 
their destruction is most effectually accomplished by the simple 
operation of pouring a quantity of boiling-hot water upon them 
from a watering-pan, while no injury is thereby done to the 
bushes. 
“ The green sort are at present (February) in the shelly state, 
lying about an inch under ground. In April they come out 
small flies, and immediately lay their eggs on the veins and 
under sides of the leaves. 
pillars in May, which feed on the leaves till June or July, when 
they cast a blackish kind of skin, and afterwards crawl down 
from the bushes into the earth, where a crust or shell grows 
over them, and in that state they continue till the following April. 
The only method which I have hitherto found effectual for 
destroying these is, Ist, to dig the ground around the bushes 
very deep during the winter season, by which means the greater 
part of them are destroyed, or buried too deep ever to penetrate 
to the surface ; 2ndly, in April, when the flies make their ap- 
pearance, to pick off all the leaves on which any eggs are ob- 
servable; this is a tedious operation, but may be done by chil- 
dren. If any of the enemy should escape both these operations, 
they will be discernible as soon as they come into life, by their 
eating holes through the leaves, and may then easily be de- 
stroyed, without the least injury to the bushes or fruit. 
“ The white kind, otherwise called borers, are not so nume- 
rous as the other kinds, though very destructive; they bore the 
berry, and cause it to drop off; they preserve themselves during 
the winter season in the chrysalis state, about an inch under 
ground, and become flies nearly at the same time with the last 
mentioned kind ; they lay their eggs on the blossoms, and these 
eggs produce young caterpillars in May, which feed on the ber- 
ries till they are full grown, and then creep down into the earth, 
where they remain for the winter in the shelly state.” Caled. 
mem. vol. 1. 
Macmurray, in autumn, pours a little cow urine around the 
stem of each bush, as much as suffices merely to moisten the 
ground. The bushes which were treated in this manner re- 
mained free of caterpillars for two years; while those that were 
neglected or intentionally passed over, in the same compart- 
ment, were totally destroyed by the depredations of the in- 
sects. A layer of sea-weed laid on in autumn, and dug in m the 
spring had the (same effect for one year. Caled. mem. vol. 1. 
- 95. 
R. Elliot says, “ take 6 pounds of black currant leaves, and 
as many of elder leaves, and boil them in 12 gallons of so 
water; then take 14 pounds of hot lime, and put it in 12 gal- 
lons of water; mix them altogether; then wash the infes - 
bushes with the hand engine ; after that is done, take a ma 
hot lime, and lay it at the root of each bush that has been washed, 
which completes the operation. By these means you com 
pletely destroy the caterpillars, without hurting the foliage. h 
dull day is to be preferred to any other for washing. When thé 
foliage is all off the bushes, wash them over with the hand be 
gine to clean them of decayed leaves ; for this purpose any $0" 
of water will do; then stir up the surface of the earth all roun 
` the roots of the bushes, and lay a little hot lime about them to 
destroy the eggs. This I have never found to fail of success 
since the first trial, 6 years ago. The above mentioned propor 
tion of leaves, lime, and water, will serve for 2 acres of groun 
or more, covered with bushes or trees in the ordinary ne 
and will cost very little money indeed. The same proportio? 
These eggs produce young cater- 
