The Culture of the Currant and the Gooseberry 1599 



Leaf spot may be controlled by applications of bordeaux 5-5-50, but 

 it is doubtful whether the disease is sufficiently destructive, on the average, 

 to warrant so much expense. If the disease is expected, it is suggested 

 to use bordeaux and arsenate of lead together when spraying for the 

 currant worm. In case it becomes necessary to apply a spray at a time 

 when bordeaux would color the fruit, ammoniacal copper carbonate may 

 be used to advantage. 



Currant anthracnose 



This disease, which may be mistaken for leaf spot, affects the leaves, 

 leafstalks, young branches, fruit, and fruitstalks. On the leaves it 

 appears during the month of June in the form of small brown spots. 

 Soon the affected leaves turn yellow and fall prematurely to the ground. 

 The fruit may also wither before ripening properly, owing to lack of 

 food or moisture. 



Spraying with bordeaux mixture, 5-5-50, is recommended as an aid 

 in controlling this disease. It would be wise, where currant anthracnose 

 is troublesome, to spray the bushes thoroughly before the leaves appear, 

 using lime-sulfur at scale strength. A second spraying should be made 

 with bordeaux when the leaves are unfolding, and successive sprayings 

 at intervals of ten to fourteen days until the fruit is nearly full-grown; 

 there is danger of its being discolored by the spray when ripe. Arsenate 

 of lead should be added to the mixture when the first brood of the currant 

 worm appears. A thorough spraying after the fruit is harvested is desir- 

 able. 



INSECT pests 



Currant worm 



The currant worm is the most serious of the insect pests. The adult 

 is a four- winged, wasp-like insect, which may be seen flying about the 

 bushes in the early spring. The eggs are deposited along the midribs 

 and on the undersides of the leaves. In a few days the eggs hatch into 

 small, green, black-spotted larvae, which feed on the leaves, often defoli- 

 ating the entire bush. A second brood hatches in the early summer. 



The application of poisons, such as arsenate of lead or paris green in 

 the usual proportions, is recommended when the worms first appear. 

 In case it is necessary to spray after the fruit is half grown, hellebore 

 should be used. 



San Jose scale 



This pest is very prevalent on currant bushes. A dormant spraying 

 of lime-sulfur at winter strength should be used. 



