166 



THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



multiply and spread, It should also be widely known that no mite can withstand 

 sulphur, particularly bisulphide of calcium (see "Mildew"), or soft soap, sulphur, and 

 soda wash (page 270, Vol. I.). Syringe the bushes thoroughly directly the fruit is 

 gathered with bisulphide of calcium, at the strength advised for mildew, clear away the 

 leaves as soon as fallen, and in dry weather syringe the bushes thoroughly with the 

 mixture, repeating in February. The soft soap, sulphur, and soda wash (Vol. T, page 

 270) may be used as a spray in November and February, wetting every part of each 

 bush. These measures and the removal of infested parts subdue the mites. Infested 

 bushes should never be propagated from. 



Currant- shoot Grub. Currant trees sometimes lose branches suddenly, which wither 



and die without apparent cause. This is 

 occasioned by the grubs or caterpillars of a 

 moth, shown in the illustration, clearing out 

 the pith of the stems. 



The moth is about J inch in expanse of 

 wings, barred and veined with black, other- 

 wise clear. It appears in June or July, flies 

 only during hot sunshine, and lays its eggs 

 in openings of the bark. The caterpillar eats 



Fig. 53. CURRANT CLEAR-WING MOTH ; SESIA (SPHINX, its Way to the pith directly it is hatched, the 

 ^EGERIA, BOMBECIA) TUPILIFORMIS. 



J, attacked branch, and withered shoot, q ; un- attack generally beginning where the stem 



attacked branch and healthy growth, r ; A", larva, j ,-1 /? j , >-, 



.. was pruned the former year, and it follows 



in shoot ; L, grab, enlarged ; M, pupa, enlarged ; 2v, 



moth, enlarged : lines on the left, natural expanse and the pith downwards, eating until full-fed J 



then, after gnawing an exit hole to the 



outside of the branch, it turns into pupa in the stem. The caterpillar is fleshy, 

 whitish, with a brown head. Its attacks are most prevalent in black, red, and white 

 currant bushes, but it also infests gooseberry bushes. 



Preventives consist in catching the moths, either when settled on currant leaves, or 

 flying around the flowers of lilac and other shrubs. Spraying the bushes early in June 

 with the petroleum emulsion or resin compound (page 261, Vol. I.) renders them 

 obnoxious to the moths, which consequently deposit their eggs elsewhere. Shoots or 

 branches becoming sickly should be cut off just above a joint with healthy growths, and 

 burned. If the wood is split the grub will be found in the pith. Sickly branches must 

 not remain longer than pruning time, nor suffered to lie about in gardens and orchards. 



