Insects, etc., Injurious to the Gooseberry. 277 



bisulphide of carbon injected into the soil in autumn, but from the 

 results I have obtained it seems that it is effectual in clearing this 

 pest out. 



When the larvae are noticed on the bushes they may be got 

 rid of in two ways. First, by hand-picking, and, secondly, by 

 spraying. 



A great deal of loss may be saved if the small colonies of 

 N. ribcsii are picked off early in the year. This should be done 

 when we see the leaves every here and there looking as if riddled 

 with fine shot; at this time all the larvae are collected together 

 and can then be easily taken and destroyed, either by being squashed 

 up in the hand or by being placed in a pail of quicklime. Later, 

 when they spread out over the bushes, hand-picking entails consider- 

 able trouble. When the larvae of J\\ ribcsii have once spread out, 

 or when the more erratic larvae of N. consobrinus and other species 

 occur, washing or spraying, to poison the larvae, is the most advan- 

 tageous treatment. Two poisons may be used for the sawfly grubs, 

 (1) hellebore and (2) arsenates. The only objection to either is 

 that they are poisons. But no cases of poisoning have ever occurred, 

 and both have been frequently used, not only in America but 

 also in this country. 



They must not be used on fruit that is ripening, or on green 

 gooseberries that are going to be picked, for four weeks previous 

 to gathering. Hellebore may be used either as a powder or as a 

 spray ; the latter is the best means of applying it. It should be 

 mixed at the rate of one ounce of powdered hellebore to two gallons 

 of soft water, a small quantity of soft soap being added. The' 

 hellebore powder must be quite fresh, as it soon loses its potent 

 factors. The wash should be kept well mixed and applied in a mode- 

 rately fine spray. By far the best way of coping with this pest is 

 spraying with arsenate of lead, especially Swift's Paste, which clings 

 to the foliage a long time. 



Strong lime-water has also been used and found serviceable, put 

 on in as fine a spray as possible, but it has to be applied more 

 than once to have much effect. Mr. Bear of Magham Down, Hail- 

 sham, writes that he can kill the larvae with soft soap and quassia. 



Later results by Pickering have shown that we may use weak 

 paraffin emulsions to kill the larvae, and in the case of late attacks 

 this is advisable. 



