FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. 99 



is oflF. But that can be obviated by spraying with Bordeaux. The leaves 

 should be kept on as long as possible so that the new fruit buds will be 

 formed during the latter part of the season. 



A Member — What about slipping plants? 



Mr. Munson — ^We usually buy ours, but you can take them off in the 

 fall — make cuttings in the fall — and bury them and then plant them 

 out in the spring. Bury them in bunches in the ground with the larger 

 end up and cover four or five inches from the top so as not to dry out. 

 In the spring remove them as soon as the frost is out of the ground. 

 They can be taken up about the first of May and put in nursery rows at 

 that time. The ends of the cuttings should be well calloused and the 

 roots ready to start at that time. The cuttings should be six or eight 

 inches long. 



A Member — Do you grow black currants? 



Mr. Munson — ^Yes and I am able to sell them at good prices. If you 

 can find a black currant that bears well it will pay to grow them. 

 I'sually they do not bear very heavily. None of my family will touch 

 them but when you do find those who want them, they want them bad. 

 The English like them and some other foreigners. 



A Member-— What about the white currants? 



Mr. Munson — We have some white currants but there is practically 

 no demand for them. We can get no larger prices for them than for the 

 red ones. 



A Member — What varieties do you advise? 



Mr. Munson — We use the Victorias because they have stiff stems and 

 are not attacked by borers. We have been using Wilders and some 

 other varieties like that. We put in Perfection this year. 



A Member — Do you recommend Downing gooseberries for commercial 

 purposes ? 



Mr. Munson — We find that the foliage is thicker and thorns stiffer 

 than the Houghton, making it harder to pick but the fruit is larger and 

 does not get red. Canners do not like red berries. 



A Member — We would like to know in regard to the spray that you 

 use, and if you use a commercial fertilizer. If so what kind? 



Mr. Munson — We spray early for the scale and for the currant worm. 

 The best remedy for the scale is lime-sulphur and we use it just the 

 same as we would for apples or peaches. Then we put into the solution, 

 two pounds of arsenate of lead to fifty gallons. 



A Member: That must go on in the dormant state? 



Mr. Munson — Yes, this lime-sulphur goes on just as the buds are 

 starting and then there must be some poison for the first currant worm, 

 which at first is very small. As to commercial fertilizer we never use 

 that as we are where we can get plenty of manure. 



A Member — Do you do any spraying after the worms come out? 



Mr. Munson — A few worms will come out on scattered bushes and 

 these can be taken care of with dry powder — Paris Green or hellebore, 

 put on with a powder gun. 



Question — You do not use arsenate of lead at that time? 



Mr. Munson — Not later than the early lime-sulphur spray. 



Question — ^How much cultivation do you give in the spring — how 

 long? State how you cultivate in the spring? 



Mr. Munson — We plant them out so that they can be cultivated both 



