The Canadian Horticulturist. 233 



The most common insects are the caterpillar of the gooseberrj' saw-fly {Nematus 

 vetoricosus) and what is commonly known as the gooseberry worm {Tempelia gros- 

 sularia). The first of these insects is hatched early in May, and so numerous 

 do they become that they will completely defoliate an entire plantation, unless 

 given an application of white hellebore, which will effectually stop their ravages 

 and save the crop. This insect is not nearly so abundant or destructive as 

 formerly. The gooseberry worm mentioned was also a threatening scourge, but 

 its numbers are less and it may disappear from our gooseberry bushes. This 

 insect settles on the gooseberry and devours its contents, then immediately joins 

 itself to another berry, enters and devours it also, and so continues. No 

 remedy is known for this insect aside from hand picking. 



Occasionally plantations are attacked with a form of mildew, destroying the 

 fruit and rendering the bushes worthless. In my opinion, the cause of these 

 diseases is atmospheric, and the remedy is, to forbear planting varieties that are 

 subject to such parasitic growths. Happily several varieties have been intro- 

 duced within the past few years that are seldom, if ever, attacked by this mil- 

 dew. 



In conclusion, I may state that our standard varieties of gooseberries are 

 limited to three or four, as a variety must be at once hardy to stand our climate, 

 free from mildew, a good grower, and an abundant bearer, with fruit of first-class 

 quality ; these points are fully developed in Industry, Smith's Improved, Down- 

 ing and Houghton's Seedling. — Ohio Farmer. 



Shelling or Rattling— Disease of Grapes.— The dropping of grapes 



from the bunches before they are ripe is becoming a serious trouble. The 

 apparently possible causes for this shelling of the grapes include injuries caused 

 by parasites, as insects, fungi and leaf blight ; or such an improper condition of 

 the vine as is shown by the shriveling of the stems before the grapes are ripe, 

 by premature ripening of the fruit and the wood, by overbearing and overgrowth 

 of wood and leaves ; or by such soil conditions as too rich land, wrong kind of 

 soil, too much cultivation, excessive drouth, especially when followed by 

 excessive rains, a weak root system, lack of phosphoric acid and potash and 

 other elements, and the need of barnyard manure ; or by such atmospheric 

 conditions as excessive heat or unfavorable winds. The disease has been 

 studied by E. G. Lodeman, of Cornell University, who finds that neither insects 

 nor fungi are the cause of the trouble, but that potash seems to be the food 

 required by the grapevine in the majority of cases where the berries shell, and 

 that this element may be needed in all cases. The continuous cropping to 

 which most of the shelling land was submitted before the vineyards were planted 

 is considered the principal reason for the lack of potash. Many of the possible 

 causes mentioned will aggravate the trouble. — American Agriculturist. 



