AUGUST. 251 



The knife must be used sparingly. Little fire heat is needed during 

 winter ; as spring advances air must be given more abundantly, and 

 the house closed early, shutting in the solar heat ; the plants will also 

 be benefited by being syringed two or three times a week during their 

 growth. When in full bloom they should be kept rather shaded ; after 

 the growth is completed they are best placed out of doors, in a sheltered 

 spot, to mature the wood for next season's bloom, but in autumn they 

 must be replaced in their old quarters. 



W.G. 



HOW TO DESTROY THE GOOSEBERRY CATERPILLAR. 

 From the many communications and inquiries which have appeared in 

 gardening periodicals as to the best means of destroying the Gooseberry 

 caterpillar, these pests seem to have been very numerous and destructive 

 last year. A few remarks, therefore, pointing out a certain means how 

 to destroy them, may not be out of place. 



JVothing can exceed the health of my Gooseberry trees at present, 

 which I attribute principally to having kept the foliage uninjured the 

 last five years, since I adopted the means of destroying the caterpillar, 

 which I am about briefly to detail. I tried most of the remedies 1 

 saw recommended, sometimes with more or less success, such as dusting 

 with powdered quicklime, soot, &c., liming the ground, &c. I also 

 tried handpicking, and I recollect once having to be absent from home 

 about ten days. I had some women picking off the caterpillars from a 

 lot ot fine young trees, full of fruit. I charged them particularly to 

 persevere during my absence in picking the caterpillars ; but on my 

 return home I found the caterpillars liad completely stripped the trees 

 of every leaf Nothing could look more deplorable ; fine young trees 

 full of fruit, and denuded of their foliage. This settled my resolve, not 

 to cease until I had found means to destroy these devouring pests. 

 I had occasionally seen powdered white hellebore recommended as a 

 remedy, but had never previously tried it. 



My friend and neighbour, Mr. Massey, the gardener at Kirby Hall, 

 happened to call here at the time the trees above mentioned were in 

 the state just described ; he named white hellebore as a certain means 

 of destroying the caterpillar, and advised me to try it, which I imme- 

 diately did, and with the very best results. It may be applied two 

 ways — either by dusting the caterpillars with the powder, or putting 

 the powder in water, well stirring it, and syringing the trees. I prefer 

 dusting the caterpillars with the powder. Very little hellebore is 

 required, if a sharp look-out is kept for the first appearance of the 

 insects on the trees ; and as they generally begin at the lower part of 

 the tree, a little powder of hellebore from a small tin box with a few 

 small holes, dusted upon the caterpillars, soon destroys them, without 

 injuring any of the fruit. By carefully going over all the bushes as 

 soon as the caterpillars are observed, and dusting among them, will in 



