. Leajiing Trees. 21 



There are but few insects injurious to the currant ; but the different species 

 of borers which eat out the pith from the shoots would seem to have much 

 increased of late. The parent of these borers is a small v/asp-like moth, 

 having transparent wings with a band of black at the tips. About the 

 middle of June, they lay their eggs near the buds, and from them a small 

 white worm is hatched in a few days, which eats its way into the wood. 

 These moths, though generally very active, become torpid in the cool of the 

 day, when they may be taken on the under side of the leaves. In winter 

 or early spring, the bushes should be examined : the shoots having borers 

 will appear brownish or wilted, and less vigorous than others ; and, by ex- 

 amining closely, the little hole where the worm entered can be found. All 

 such shoots must be destroyed ; and, in making cuttings, they should be 

 examined for borers. The currant-worm and the gooseberry saw-fly, which 

 eat the foliage, may be destroyed by watering with water with which pow- 

 dered white hellebore has been mixed in the proportion of half an ounce of 

 the powder to three quarts of water. The proper time for applying it is 

 from the 25th of May to the 5th of June. 



LEANING TREES. 



Often in a fine orchard we find one or more trees leaning over so far 

 as to destroy the beauty of the whole orchard. It is also much more diffi- 

 cult to cultivate around a leaning tree. This may easily be remedied, while 

 the trees are young, by partially digging up and replanting the tree. The 

 roots will usually be found smallest on the side from which the tree leans ; 

 and therefore these roots should be loosened from the earth, the tree set 

 in a perpendicular position, and carefully fastened by stakes or guys, and 

 the earth replaced around the roots. It would be well to add some rich 

 compost to promote their growth. If, as is very probable, the top of the 

 tree has become one-sided, it should be pruned so as to restore the balance. 

 In this way we have " righted up " pear-trees six inches through the stem ; 

 but the best way is to look after the young trees, and not permit them to 

 depart from the way of uprightness. 



