43 



berry and currant, the Goaselierri/ Worm. This in- 

 sect is very common and very injurious and has been 

 for many years past, and in all paits of the country, 

 so tliat a deseriplion is needless as all are thoroui^hly 

 familiar with its appearance and its work. It is felt 

 to bo such a .severe scourfje, however, and so discour- 

 aging in its fciTocts upon us that it has very sensibly, 

 suddenly and effectually checked the production of 

 this refreshing summer fruit. We seem to be liclp- 

 ess in tiic matter and have little or no respite for the 

 incessant attacks upon us of several broods in one 

 season, will iffoctuaily, baffle the most determined 

 and the most industrious. Our readiest and best re- 

 medy is applying powdered Il'/ilf,' Hi'i-lihon: to the sur- 

 face of the leaves which is a temporary relief as it 

 does not agree with the best functional interests of 

 FiK. 28. their insect constitution. But tiie thought of poi.son 



among our summer fruits is rather appalling, and not of the most relishable or attractive 



character. 



Thk Gooseberky Fruit Wobm {Ptmpdia Gromdaria). 



9\,,^AJ^ for !' representation of the moth and cocoon of this species, (See 



^ngK^nMHjBh tig' 29). Tiiis is, periiaps, the most insidious and annoying enemy 

 ^^^^EB^ Hy ^ of the gooseberry and the ourrant. It winters as a chrysalid near 

 ^^^f^^^^ 'be surface of the ground just under the bush where it was last feed- 

 Fiy. v;;i ing. In the early spring as soon as the sun has warmed the soil the 



active and vigilant moths appear, and after copulation, commence at once their work of egg 

 depositing in the young fruit almost before the full and proper expansion of the blossoms. 

 These eggs quickly give rise to little white, insidious worms that make their way into the 

 very heart of the berry and grow and thrive upon its internals. As scon as this berry is con- 

 sumed and unable, longer, to serve the worm any good and substantial purpose, it leaves and 

 immediately attaches itself to another by means of its silken cords or web-like productions, 

 and thus secures itself safely against all danger and loss. In this way it has attacked and 

 destroyed a dozen or more berries to satisfiy its cravings before it has reached the period of 

 maturity or the season for chsngc. When this period arrives it falls to the ground by means 

 of its silk«n threads, buries itself in the earth and changes to a chrysalis. The remedies are 

 hand-picking, and the application of noxious substances to the bushes in early spring, but 

 these are troublesome and partly ineffectual and hence not very satisfactorj-. 



The May I^eetle (Phyllophaga Quercina. — See Fig. 30). 



2 represents the larva, I the chrysalis, and 

 3 and 4 the perfect beetle. The larva of this 

 active summer evening buzzing beetle stands 

 charged with many and grievious offences 

 against the farmer and the fruit grower. A 

 neighbour of mine said to me the other day 

 '• My corn was only half a crop — those cussed 

 white grubs eat it so ; it wilted to the ground ; " 

 but I suppose that in his case, perhaps, .some- 

 thing cLsc did it. However, although our soil 

 is peculiarly suited to their purposes, and is 

 iberally supplied with the larva in all stages of 

 :rowth. I have but one i>T two heavy griev- 

 iMces to lay to their charge, one of which I 

 eel pretty deeply and severely, f had long 

 noticed, after planting out young evergreens in 

 nursery rows in the spring, particularly seed- 

 lings of spruce, hemlock, and fir, that eicca- 

 sionally several of them just after commencing 



Fig. 30. 



