GOOSEBERRIES ENEMIES. 223 



full-fed they become pale green, yet retain the yellow rings and two black spots on the 

 head, and soon afterwards enter the soil, forming yellowish-brown cocoons, in which 

 they change to chrysalids, from which the saw-flies emerge in about three weeks. The 

 later broods of caterpillars, however, pass the winter unchanged in the cocoons, yet 

 turn to chrysalids in time to appear as saw-flies with the unfolding of the gooseberry 

 leaves. 



The following practice is very old, and effective in preventing attacks of gooseberry 

 and currant saw-fly caterpillars : Eemove the soil under the bushes to a depth of 2 

 inches or a little more, in loose soil as far as the branches extend, and bury it in a trench, 



Fig. 69. GrOOSBBEBRY AND CuBBANT SAW-FLY ; CATERPTLLAE-INFESTED AND CLEAN BRANCH. 



References: 1, Male saw-fly, enlarged ; 2, larva; 3, cocoon ; 4, infested branch ; 5, clean growth. 



taken out in the open space between the rows of trees, not less than 1 foot deep, tread- 

 ing it well down, placing the worst soil taken out of the trench on the top. This converts 

 the cocoons and their contents into manure, and fresh soil is brought up for amelioration. 

 Then sprinkle quicklime over the bushes, supply an inch thickness of manure or rich 

 compost in place of the surface soil removed, and cover it with an inch of the best soil 

 taken out of the trench. Thus the bushes receive an annual nourishing dressing, and 

 flourish. 



"Where the soil is loose it should be firmed in September, as advised for the magpie 

 and V-moth, and where the bushes cover the whole of the ground, a git may be prepared 



