340 Report op the Horticulturist of the 



monly known us the currant worm. This saw fly has four wings 

 and the female is somewhat larger than the common house fly, 

 her body being mostly yellow. The front wings are characterized 

 by a dark spot in each as shown in the accompanying illustration, 

 figure 4, which was prepared from a drawing by Mr. V. H. Lowe, 

 Station Entomologist. 



On warm days in early spring these saw flies begin to appear 

 and deposit their eggs in chains along the midrib and veins on 

 the underside of the leaf. The time of the appearing of the first 

 brood extends over a period of several weeks, and later in the 

 season a second brood appears so that constant watchfulness is 

 necessary to prevent the depredations of these insects. About 

 ten days after the eggs are laid they hatch into minute white 

 larvae, commonly called worms, which feed on the leaves, grow 

 rapidly and spread over the bushes often stripijing them of foli- 

 age in a few days. The growingworms soon assume a light green 

 color which afterwards becomes several shades darker. At one 

 period of growth they are marked with many black dots. When 

 full grown they are about three-quarters of an inch long. 



Early in the season before the fruit has attained much size, 

 London purple or Paris green may be used against these insects 

 with good success, but later it is best to use powdered hellebore 

 which may be applied even when the fruit is ripening without 

 any fear of rendering it unfit for food. These substances may be 

 dusted on the foliage or applied in the form of a spray. The 

 latter method is preferable, especially if many bushes are to be 

 treated. The London purple or Paris green should be mixed at 

 the rate of one pound to from one hundred and fifty to two hun- 

 dred gallons of water. Hellebore is used at the rate of one pound 

 to fifty gallons of water. Care should be taken to get fresh helle- 

 bore or pure Paris green. When the insects begin to appear the 

 poison should be applied at once. 



The currant borer sometimes attacks gooseberry as well as cur- 

 rant canes. The adult is a small bluish-black moth with three 

 bright yellow bands .across the abdomen. It lays the eggs on or 

 near the buds and when hatched the larva enters the cane and 



