404 ANNUAL REPORT. 



branches off, and found that the pith was entirely eaten out, and 

 the worm was still alive. 



Mr. Gray. I asked one of my boys what was the difference 

 between the American borer and the European borer. He said 

 that one was the son of a moth, and the other was the son of a 

 beetle. One of them has feet, and the other has no feet. The 

 beetle and the moth go out in the spring and lay their eggs. 

 The eggs hatch out, and the worm eats the pith out of the stem, 

 and the plant is destroyed. It remains, then, in the pupa state 

 until spring, when it passes out. 



Mr. Gilpatrick had raised currants for twenty-four years and 

 lost but three crops. He cut the little bushes close to the ground 

 every spring, and put on wood ashes, and has had no trouble 

 since. He thinks the lye from the ashes kills the worms. He 

 told a neighbor, who tried the same thing, and the effect was the 

 same. 



Mr. Busse. Take a handful of salt to each bush, and you will 

 be sure not to have any borers near. 



Mr. Roberts. Two years ago I put on a lot of coal ashes, and 

 think I had the biggest crop I ever had before. I took the ashes 

 from the stove in the winter, and threw them around the bushes. 

 In the spring I took my hoe and worked them into the ground. 



Mr. Pearce said that the borer was the greatest thing we had 

 to contend with. More currant bushes had been destroyed by 

 them than in any other manner, and if salt would kill them it 

 was important that it should be known. 



Mr. Gray thought the salt should be applied about the first of 

 June. 



VARIETIES RECOMMENDED. 



On motion of Mr. Eoberts the Red Dutch was recommended for 

 general cultivation. 



On motion of Mr. Gilpatrick the Stewart seedling was recom- 

 mended for trial. 



Mr. Gray recommended the White Grape for general cultiva- 

 tion, and it was agreed to. 



No conclusion was reached in regard to black currants. Mr. 

 Pearce said that it was a mistake that more of them were not 

 raised. They are recommended by physicians, and will sell 

 readily. 



