i6o6 The Cornell Reading Courses 



parent early in the season in the web-like covering which coats the leaves, 

 shoots, and fruit. This is the mycelium from which is given off the spores 

 which propagate this disease. It is usually noticed first in the lov/er and 

 most shaded parts of the bush. When the spores are being given off, 

 the mildew has a powdery appearance. Winter spores are formed later, 

 which germinate in the spring. As the mycelium and spores are both 

 on the surface, it might be thought this disease could be easily controlled, 

 but the weather conditions in this country seem so favorable to the de- 

 velopment of spores that the gooseberry mildew spreads with great rapidity, 

 and constant and thorough spraying are necessary to prevent it from 

 doing so. American varieties are seldom affected by gooseberry mildew, 

 although occasionally they are slightly attacked. 



" Potassium sulphide (i ounce to 2 gallons water) has, on the whole, 

 given the best results at the Experimental Farm, although in some in- 

 stances the foliage was injured by it. This remedy is recommended by 

 the New York Experiment Station, to whom belongs the credit of dis- 

 covering it in 1887. Early applications are very important, beginning 

 when the leaf buds are breaking and continuing at intervals of a week 

 to ten days. About five or six sprayings will be necessary, but if the 

 weather is unfavorable more may have to be given. The bushes should 

 be sprayed from beneath as well as from above. The centre of the bush 

 should receive the spray also. In fact, the whole bush should be thor- 

 oughly sprayed." 



INSECT PESTS 



Currant worm 

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

 history of this insect and the methods of controlling it are described 

 for the currant (page 207). 



YIELDS AND INCOMES 



It* is more difficult to calculate accurately the average yield for the 

 gooseberry than for most fruits, since the gooseberry is grown com- 

 mercially to a limited extent only. The figures vary somewhat and 

 therefore are suggestive rather than conclusive. Bailey* gives the average 

 yield for New York State at one hundred bushels per acre. Probably 

 this is too low. Cardt says that the grower can expect three to five 

 hundred bushels per acre. At the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, 



*" Horticulturist's Rule-Book." by L. H. Bailey, p. 12s. 

 t " Bush Fruits." by F, W. Card. p. 371. 



