THE MANISTEE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 379 



Seedlirig he had always fcnud perfectly hardy ia this climate. They were free 

 from all diseases, and are never troubled by insects except the currant worm 

 and a little green louse, the latter, however, coming on after the crop, and 

 doing no damage. And, by the way, he explained that the louse never 

 troubled the English varieties. The former insect he said was easily killed 

 and was not regarded as a very formidable enemy. After the gooseberries are 

 four or five years old, they should have much of the old wood cut out. 



In regard to the market Mr. Eamsdell said it never had been supplied. He' 

 sold his last year at four dollars per bushel, and knew parties who would have 

 gladly paid five dollars per bushel if they could have got them. 



Mr. Mapes said his experience had been on sandy soil. He had found the- 

 Houghton Seedling the most prolific bearer. He could endorse everything 

 Eamsdell said in regard to propagation. He would cut in the fall so as to 

 give them time to callus over. He found that the gooseberry needed rich 

 soil. He had never given his manure or mulch, and hence what he did, was 

 under unfavorable circumstances. He thought Eamsdell's estimate of 500 

 bushels to the acre was within bounds ; 2,742 bushes could be put on an acre ; 

 and he had picked six quarts to the bush under really no cultivation. This 

 would make over 500 bushels without any cultivation, and bring, at ten cents 

 per quart, 81,639.20. 



Mr. Booth referred to a man near St. Louis, who picked eight quarts to the 

 bush, and sold them at a shilling per quart. 



Mr. Mapes said the gooseberry was almost as good to handle as the potato, 

 and he didn't have to pick all of them at one time. He had studied the sub- 

 ject, and concluded that it was a perfectly safe thing to cultivate, and very 

 profitable. 



ixsECT ex::mies of small fruits. — a ukio^s" fair. 



The subject for the meeting to discuss was changed from the " Currant 

 Borer" to the "Insect Enemies of the Currant and Gooseberry." 



Mr. Mapes opened the discussion by stating that he knew nothing of the per- 

 fect insect from which the currant borer came. The only information he had 

 been able to gather was from the Fruit Kecorder of 1872, the editor of which 

 explained that the moth that deposited the larvre that made the currant borer 

 was similar to the moth that deposited the larvaj of the peach borer. It was 

 generally deposited at the base of the bud. He said the shoot which contained 

 the borer should be cut off and the enemy be destroyed by burning. Further 

 information, he said, could be had of Luther Tucker & Son, Albany, New York. 



Mr. Eamsdell said he had generally noticed that theii marks were on this 

 year's or the previous year's growth. He had not yet decided whether they 

 went up or down. He had found them going both ways, and had followed 

 them to the root, and found that hollow. He had never seen any signs of the 

 larvae until after the first of June. He saw but very little of them last season 

 any way. 



Mr. Mapes said he did not think he saw as many last year as usual. 



Mr. Eamsdell suggested a remedy. He would make the ground rich, and 

 give a strong, rapid growth, leaving the shoots to grow, and cut out the old 

 wood. He would renew the bush as rapidly as possible. 



On motion the Secretary was instructed to write to Prof. Cook, of the Agri- 

 cultural College, and find out if he knew anything of the borer. 



The currant worm was then taken up. Mr. Mapes said he found several 

 remedies, — dry wood -ashes, ashes and soot mixed, white hellebore and carbonate 



