354 Report of the Horticulturist of the 



on the leaves, grow rapidly and spread over the bushes, often strip- 

 ping them of their foliage in a few days. As the worms grow thej 

 assume a light green color and at one stage are covered with many 

 black dots. They are about three quarters of an inch long when 

 full grown. 



Remedy. — As soon as the little worms appear, the bushes should 

 be sprayed with hellebore, one ounce to three gallons of water. The 

 spraying should be repeated as often as the worms appear in suffi- 

 cient numbers to do damage. The insect has two broods and care- 

 ful watch for the little worms should be kept throughout the sum- 

 ^ mer to prevent the bushes from being defoliated. 



Gooseberry. 



Mildew. — The mildew usually makes is first appearance on the 

 young shoots and leaves. Here it will first attract the observer's 

 attention as a collection of some bright, frosty substance. On close 

 examination it will be found to be composed of a mass of glistening 

 white threads that spread rapidly under favorable conditions. The 

 more mature portions of the fungus take on a dirty brown color. 

 Later it attacks the fruit in a si miliar manner. The threads often 

 spread over the berries until they are entirely covered with a mass 

 of brown felt-like mould, which renders them unsalable. 



Em'opean varieties, when grown in this country, are particularly 

 susceptible to the attacks of mildew. Many of these varieties pro- 

 duce very large, fine fruit and are so desirable both for home and 

 market that they would be grown to a much greater extent than 

 they now are, were it not for the attacks of this disease. 



It has been found at this Station that with proper attention to 

 location, cultivation and pruning, the mildew may be successfully 

 held under control by spraying with potassium sulphide. When 

 setting out a plantation, a site should be chosen where the land is 

 well underdrained and where there is an abundant circulation of 

 air. Branches that droop close to the ground should be pruned 

 back and the ground underneath kept free from grass or weeds, 

 preferably by frequent shallow cultivation, otherwise by mulching. 



Remedy. — Spraying should begin early in the spring after the 

 buds break and before the first leaves unfold, using one ounce of 

 potassium sulphide for two gallons of water. This treatment is 

 repeated at intervals of from seven to ten days depending on the 



