84 FRUIT TREES AND THEIR ENEMIES 



insects, which attach themselves to other portions of 

 the branches, and remain there all the winter, moving 

 in spring on to the younger wood and leaves, and 

 gradually growing into the brown mature scale insect. 

 Remedies. — Treatment with caustic washes, the same 

 as for mussel scale (p. 72), or with paraffin emulsion 

 (without the caustic soda), in March. 



Gooseberry Mildew (^Microsphceria grossularice). — 

 This may become prevalent when warm, moist 

 weather in spring has been followed by a spell of 

 cold, but it usually shows itself in summer, after the 

 fruit is gathered. The leaves become spotted, and 

 covered on both sides with white patches, which 

 consist of the first spores of the fungus : these 

 give place later on to the second form of spores, 

 consisting of minute black particles, which ripen on 

 the dead leaves, and infect the fresh foliage in the 

 following year. The bushes become enfeebled by the 

 loss of leaves, and the berries do not mature properly. 



Remedies. — When the leaf-buds are expanding, 

 spray with potassium sulphide, 6 ozs. to 10 gallons, 

 and repeat the operation at intervals of a fortnight, 

 if the mildew appears. Collect and destroy all fallen 

 leaves. 



(The American Gooseberry Mildezv is a much more 

 dangerous disease. It appears first on the leaves 

 as white patches, which gradually become thick and 

 felty, and of a dingy brown colour. It attacks the 

 shoots and the fruit also. If its presence is suspected, 

 communication should be at once made to the 

 Board of Agriculture.) 



