856 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



spread with great rapidity, and seemed for a while to defy all the usual insecticides and other 

 methods of destruction. Then the late Mr. Walsh of Illinois discovered a native saw-fly, the 

 Pristiphora grossularice, which was also double-brooded like its European congener, and fed 

 upon the currant and gooseberry, rather preferring the latter. 



With these three insects; with a borer or two that perforates the stems of the plants, 

 and several species of plant-lice infesting leaves, roots, and green shoots, the cultivators of 

 the currant and gooseberry have had all they could do to keep their plants alive, and obtain 

 even a moderate crop of fruit. For the different species feeding on the leaves nothing has 

 been discovered better in the way of destroying them than powdered white hellebore. A few 

 dustings with this, at the proper time, will usually destroy these pests. Hand-gathering may 

 also be practiced, as well as frequent cultivating the ground among the bushes, in order to 

 unearth the worms that have passed it to undergo their transformation. 



The common currant stalk-borer (sEgeria tipuliformis) is well known to all growers o{ 

 this fruit; at least the larva or grub is, which may be found in the canes during tne fall and 

 winter months, and during this time all infested shoots should be cut and burned with their 

 contents. There are also one or two other species of currant-borers, but as they are all found 

 in the stems during winter, one method of destroying will answer for all. 



The diseases of currants and gooseberries are mainly climatic, consequently difficult to 

 prevent or cure. Mildew on the gooseberry is the one most dreaded, and tne oetter w&y is 

 to avoid it by cultivating only those varieties that are adapted to your soil and climate, and 

 the native ones are preferable to the foreign on this account. In cool, moist soils, or with a 

 liberal amount of mulch and thinning out of the heads of the plants, the European varieties 

 may be occasionally made to succeed moderately well.&quot; 



Large Fruit Farms. The following account of two large and thrifty fruit orchards 

 in Pennsylvania may serve to show what can be accomplished by well-directed and judicious 

 management, combined with a thorough knowledge of the business of fruit-growing: 



&quot; The largest, finest, and most productive fruit farm in Erie County is that of Mr. A 

 Battles. Although this farm is only about three miles from the beautiful borough of Girard, 

 I venture to say that many persons in this township, who are admirers of rural beauty and 

 choice fruit, have never seen it. Of the 10,000 or 12,000 bearing fruit trees on these two 

 hundred acres, 6,000 are apple trees; 1,500 pear trees; 2,500 peach trees; and 500 quince 

 trees; all of choice varieties. When I visited the farm, in June, the prospect for a fine yield 

 of apples, pears, and peaches, was flattering; but the severe and protracted drouth has caused 

 much of the fruit to wither and fall. Mr. B. has six acres of grapes, mostly Concords, 

 although he grows Catawbas, Isabellas, and other choice kinds to accommodate his customers. 

 As his farm is bounded on the west by a dense forest, his fruits have never been injured by 

 that destructive insect the rosebug. 



Fourteen acres of the farm are planted to strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. 

 Mr. B. prefers the Crescent Seedling to any other strawberry for the table or market. Its 

 yield is wonderful. It is larger than the Wilson, and has a finer color and flavor. 



Although the extremely dry weather has probably reduced the yield one-half, I present 

 the figures below as a result of Mr. B. s strawberry season. Whole amount gathered from 

 one and one-fourth acres, 275 bushels, mostly Wilsons. Whole amount for Crescent Seed 

 lings gathered from one-tenth of an acre, 47 bushels, or at the rate of 475 bushels per acre. 

 Amount of sales from one and one-fourth acre, $482.51, after deducting the expense of mar 

 keting. Paid for picking the berries, $51.21. Profit from one and one-fourth acres of land, 

 $431.30; not a bad result, considering the unfavorable season. 



I noticed on the farm some splendid specimens of Lancashire swine. They run in the 

 orchard, and become fat easily and in a short time, by feeding on the grass, and on the dis 

 eased and immature fruit that drops from the trees.&quot; 



