Xt;\v York Agricultural Expekimlxt Station. 427 



Otherwise it is more difficult to poison them. If a second appli- 

 cation is necessary use an ounce of hellebore to one o-allon of water. 



GOOSEBEKEY DISEASES. 



LEAF-SPOT. 



The fungi which cause the leaf-spot diseases of the currant also 

 attack the gooseberry. They are discussed on page 424. 



MILDEW. 



(Sphaerotheca mors-uvae (Schw.) B. & C.) 



Description. — The mildew usually makes its first appearance 

 on the young shoots and leaves. Here it will first attract the 

 observer's attention as a collection of some bright, frosty sub- 

 stance. On close examination it will be found to be composed of 

 a mass of glistening w^hite threads that spread rapidly under favor- 

 able conditions. The more mature portions of the fungus take 

 on a dirty browTi color. Later it attacks the fruit in a similar 

 manner. The threads often spread over the berries until they 

 are entirely covered with a mass of brown, felt-like mold, which 

 renders them unsalable. 



European varieties, when groAvn in this country, are particu- 

 larly susceptible to the attacks of mildew. Many of those varie- 

 ties produce very large, fine fruit and are so desirable both for 

 home and market that they would be grown to a much greater ex- 

 tent than they now are, were it not for the attacks of this disease. 



When setting out a plantation, a site should be chosen where 

 the land is well underdrained and where there is an abundant cir- 

 culation of air. Branches that droop close to the ground should 

 be pruned back and the gTound underneath kept free from grass 

 or weeds, preferably by frequent shallow cultivation, otherwise 

 by mulching. 



Treatment. — Spraying should begin early in spring after the 

 buds break and before the first leaves unfold, using one oimce of 



