294 SUCCESS WITH SMALL FRUITS. 



they abounded ; and, at first, horticulturists were ahiiost in 

 despair, for the pests seemed proof against the usual insect- 

 icides and means of destruction. It was eventually discov- 

 ered that powdered white hellebore was a specific remedy. 

 Usually, it is applied unmixed with other substances ; and 

 pains should be taken to get a genuine article, or else it will 

 not destroy the worms. 



Mr. H. T. Jones, of Rochester, recommends the follow- 



" To one pailful of wood-ashes, add one quart each of white 

 hellebore and flowers of sulphur ; mix thoroughly ; apply by 

 sifting on the bushes while the dew is on them. I used nothing 

 else on my plantation of over two acres last season, and want 

 nothing better ; but it must be used daily as long as any worms 

 are seen." 



I have heard that, if applied in a liquid form, a heaping 

 table-spoonful of hellebore to a gallon of water is a good 

 proportion. 



At the meeting of the New Jersey Historical Society, it 

 was stated by good authorities, as the result of actual expe- 

 rience, that tobacco-dust would kill the worms as readily as 

 hellebore. I hope this is true, since the latter is expensive 

 when applied on a large scale, and the tobacco-dust can be 

 bought at from two dollars to three dollars per barrel. I 

 shall try it next year. 



I also quote the following from a recent editorial by Mr. 

 Fuller, in the New York '' Weekly Sun : " — 



" White hellebore has long been considered one of the most 

 efficacious of all poisons for the imported currant worm, but a 

 New Jersey fruit grower of considerable experience informed us 

 not long ago that he had found strong tobacco water quite as 

 good as the hellebore, and it was also soon washed off by heavy 

 rains, whereby the fruit was not rendered unfit for use, as when 



