192 BUSH FRUITS 



are found preying upon these plants. The injury due to 

 these insects is somewhat distinct for the various species, 

 although all of them eat the leaves and cause considerable 

 damage. The adults of some of the so-called currant worms 

 are moths and some are flies, but in all cases it is the larvae 

 of the species attacking the plant that eat the foliage. The 

 habits and the life histories of the various currant worms 

 differ, but in general all of them can be controlled by the 

 same methods. 



If the plants are sprayed with 2 pounds of arsenate of lead 

 to 50 gallons of water, these insects can be easily killed. If 

 arsenate of lead is not available, \ pound of Paris green to 

 50 gallons of water is effective in destroying the worms. 

 The spraying should begin as soon as the insects are seen. 

 Usually one spraying is sufficient, although in some cases 

 additional sprayings are necessary. If the insect attacks the 

 plant later in the season, when the fruit is reaching maturity, 

 spray them with fresh hellebore or fresh pyrethrum at the 

 rate of 4 ounces to 2 gallons of water. Dusting the plants 

 with the dry material diluted, 1 pound of the poison to 5 

 pounds of air-slaked lime or flour, is also good. Where the 

 pyrethrum or the hellebore is used, there is no danger from 

 poisoning by the eating of the fruit. 



Aphis. — The aphis is known as the plant louse. It is 

 frequently found on the currant, and occasionally on the 

 gooseberry. It is yellowish green in color and is usually 

 found on the under side of the leaves. The plant lice usually 

 become abundant during the latter part of the spring, and 

 they often cover the entire under surface of the leaves, 

 causing them to curl up. The younger leaves near the tips 

 of the branch are the ones which are most often at- 

 tacked. 



The spraying with kerosene emulsion or with Black Leaf 

 40 will control this insect. The spraying to be effective 

 must be done with great care and the spray material must 

 come in contact with every insect. This is often difficult, 

 since the insects are in the curled leaves, and hard to reach. 

 The spray must necessarily be directed upward so as to reach 

 the under side of the leaves. 



