40 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



the latter case being the rule prices consequently ranged high — here 

 in our local market at Ottawa from ;^i.5o to ^2.00 per bushel, wholesale, 

 for currants. 



We have but comparatively few insects to contend against with these 

 fruits, but the operations of these few are sufficiently great, if neglected, 

 to generally destroy the whole crop. 



A few years ago the most troublesome of these pests was the currant 

 span-worm, or geotneter caterpillar; of late, however, I have seen 

 nothing of them ; the most effectual way of ridding the bushes of them 

 is by thorough hand-picking. 



The stalk-borer and leaf-aphis are our worst foes at present. The 

 stalk-borer is not so easily banished, but can be kept well under control 

 by proper pruning, and the brush taken away and at once burned. 



The larvae is generally found in the canes that have borne once, and 

 but seldom in the young shoots ; it burrows in the pith of the cane, 

 J:unneling its way upward ; it remains in the cane over winter, and there- 

 fore, if the pruning is done in the autumn or winter, is quite easily 

 eradicated. 



White hellebore mixed with water, or a weak solution of carbolic 

 acid, either of which may be applied in spray to the leaves, being careful 

 to wet the under sides of them, will destroy the leaf-aphis. 



As yet, so far as varieties of currants are concerned, I have found 

 none to supersede Red and White Dutch and White Grape. 



Victoria, with me, is not sufficiently productive, neither is the 

 Cherry. Long-bunched Holland is the best very late variety, but here 

 will not sell in market, its place being filled with other berries and apples. 

 Black Naples for family use is the best of the blacks, but no black currant 

 can be made profitable to grow for market, so far as my experience goes. 



Many varieties might be mentioned as "fair to good" in bearing 

 and quality, but I think it useless to multiply varieties when they possess 

 no merits of greater value than those we already have. 



Of gooseberries the Houghton and American Seedling are small in 

 size, but great bearers, and of very good quality. 



Smith's, Downing and Mountain Seedling are larger and more 

 salable. I would discourage planting the English varieties, as they are 

 very liable to mildew, but in localities where they are not troubled with 

 this difficulty I would suggest the planting of Crown Bob, Roaring Lion, 

 Red Champagne and Whitesmith. These should be severely pruned and 

 but few canes allowed for fruiting, and the fruit on these thinned to 

 obtain the largest specimens. 



As the foregoing remarks principally apply to currants and goose- 

 berries as raised on my own place it may be well to state that my soil 

 consists of a rich sandy loam, highly cultivated and heavily manured with 

 both special and domestic manures. 



On motion, the Society then adjourned to half-past six o'clock this 

 evening. 



