46 GOOSEBERRY. 
them; but, in the case of the Gooseberry Sawfly, the position of their 
winter caterpillar-cocoons, just below the surface, gives a very fair ex- 
ample of non-injury from severe cold so long as the creatures are in 
their own self-arranged shelters. 
Often also there is such difference in temperature at different 
localities that it is difficult to make sure of coincidence of special con- 
ditions of weather and of insect presence. But last winter the severe 
cold was general, and without going into readings of earth temperatures 
at different depths below the surface, we get good practical guidance 
to the long frost-bound state of the ground in the returns of various of 
the leading agricultural papers at the end of February and beginning 
of March as to the land in the various wide districts named being only 
then beginning to get into order for ploughing. 
Algo, in the past season’s reports, we have mention of success of 
some good broadscale remedial applications, and, on the contrary, of 
failure of treatment, for which possibly there might be a cause. 
Also, from enquiry sent to myself, some further allusion seems re- 
quisite to the change that takes place in the appearance of the cater- 
pillars at their last moult. This is not as great as in the case of the 
Pear-tree Sawfly, iu which the black, slimy, slug-like grub, on casting 
its skin, appears as a dry orange-coloured caterpillar; but with the 
Gooseberry caterpillar, the casting of the green and yellow black-spotted 
skin, and assuming one of unspotted green and yellow, gives such a 
different appearance to the grub as sometimes to cause doubt how 
many kinds are present. 
One of the first reports of bad amount of presence of Gooseberry 
Sawfly caterpillars was sent me from Stratford-on-Avon, on May 10th, 
by Mr. Wilson, as follows:—‘“I have a plantation of Gooseberry- 
bushes, and last year they were very badly infested with caterpillar. 
I had two men on for a fortnight hand-picking them, but could not 
keep them under, and most of the bushes were stripped. I was through 
them this morning, and am sorry to say I found quite a number of the 
insects all through the plants, but as yet there is no serious damage 
done, and as the attack is much earlier this year than last, 1 hope to 
be able to clear them by spraying.” 
On the 13th of May Mr. Wilson further noted that the caterpillars 
had made great havoc since the date of his first letter, and that he was 
then starting hand-picking. 
The following report of presence of Sawfly was sent me on the 15th 
of May by Mr. Edwin Ellis, from Summersbury, Shalford, near Guild- 
ford. This, it will be seen, notes devastating amount of attack on the 
large area of sixty acres of Gooseberry-bushes, this following on slight 
presence late in the previous year, after nine years’ previously observed 
immunity from attack; also the failure of remedial measures ;—“ I 
