No. 4.] SMALL FRUITS AND BERRIES. 107 



done to some extent, and consists largely in removing weak 

 shoots and pinching back long ones so that the strength of 

 the vine shall go to developing large frnit buds. An excessive 

 growth on either the raspberry or blackberry is to be avoided, 

 for generally this is a soft growth and is more liable to win- 

 ter injury than when the growth is medinm and hard. 

 Raspberries and blackberries often need to be tied np to some 

 kind of a trellis, bnt this is not necessary if the proper prun- 

 ing is done, although some varieties grow such a slender cane 

 that they have to be supported. 



Spraying. 



All of the small fruits should be sprayed, not only for 

 insect pests but for the various plant diseases which attack 

 them, in order to get the best results. 



Currants and gooseberries are attacked by the San Jose 

 scale, and once the bushes get badly infested it is better to 

 dig them out and start over, for this pest is hard to get rid 

 of in currant bushes ; oil is by far the best spray for scale 

 on currants and gooseberries, and great care should be taken 

 to apply it well about the base of the plants near the ground, 

 for the scale often gets below the surface on the stems of the 

 plant, and is difficult to reach with anything that will not 

 creep or spread as the oil does. Spraying for scale should be 

 done in the fall with oil, and, in bad cases, again in the 

 spring with lime and sulfur before the buds begin to swell. 

 Currants and gooseberries should also be sprayed for currant 

 worm soon after the leaves are well out, and if this is done 

 early enough arsenate of lead can be used, but if the spray- 

 ing is left until the worms appear a quicker acting spray like 

 Paris green should be used. Probably one of the worst 

 enemies of the currant and gooseberry is the aphid or plant 

 louse. These insects appear in such numbers that the leaves 

 on the ends of the shoots are quickly rolled up, and then 

 there is no chance to fight the pest. Spraying for the aphid 

 should begin as soon as the growth begins on the plant. 

 Some of the tobacco products are the best sprays to use in 

 fighting this pest. 



The raspberry and blackberry do not have many insect 



