34 



CURRANTS AND GOOSEBERRIES. 



ing the foliage with tobacco water made by steeping the raw leaf 

 or stems in hot water until it is the color of strong tea. Kerosene 

 emulsion is also a very excellent remedy. It may be made as fol- 

 lows : Soft soap, one quart ; hard soap (preferably whale-oil soap) 

 one-fourth pound ; two quarts hot water, and one pint kerosene. 

 Stir thoroughly until all are permanently mixed, then add two 

 quarts more of water. A force pump will be found the best thing 

 to mix it with, and the mixture should be forced through the pump 

 back into the receptacle containing it many times in order to make 

 it permanent. In using this mixture its strength may have to be 

 varied a little to suit the plant or the aphis. In fighting these in- 

 sects it is very important to commence as soon as the first are seen, 

 as they often increase with 

 great rapidity. On account of 

 the position of the leaves these 

 lice are very difficult to get at 

 with a spray, and on their 

 first appearance the infested 

 foliage should be destroyed. 

 It is sometimes most practi- 

 cable to dip the branches into 

 the emulsion. 



Diseases. There are sev- 

 eral fungi that attack the fol- 

 ,iage of the currant. Perhaps 

 the most common is the rust 

 (tieptosia Ribex), which causes 

 the leaves to fall prematurely 

 in July or August. The Bor- 

 deaux mixture mentioned un- 

 der the head of the strawber- 

 ry is probably the best pre- 

 ventive, but should be used 

 quite early in the spring and FIG. 24. Currant Sorer (Aegeria tipuli- 

 again after the crop Is gath- %,* SftgPg? $%& 

 ered. If used just before the open to show caterpillar inside and 

 fruit is ripe it will badly dis- an empty pupa skin above. 

 figure it. 



Varieties. There are not so many varieties of the currant 

 offered in the nursery catalogues as of most other cultivated fruits, 

 but still there is much difference in the size and quality of the dif- 

 ferent kinds, as well as in the hardiness and vigor of the plants 

 For the home garden about one dozen plants well cared for will 

 give an abundance of fruit. The following are the most important 

 kinds: 



RED DUTCH. The variety most commonly cultivated and the 

 most productive, hardiest and best kind known for general plant- 

 ing. Fruit bright red, small to medium in size and in good bunch- 

 es. It will hang on the bush a long time after getting ripe without 



