Raspberries and Blackberries. 241 



briskly as a flea, from which characteristic they derive their scientific name. The 

 particular species in question was called by Professor Riley the ' Bramble- Flea-louse 

 (Psylla rubi* )] in the American Entomologist (Vol. I., p. 225). It has increased 

 rapidly during the past half dozen years or more, and unless fruit growers make a more 

 vigorous fight than they have yet done, it will soon get the mastery of many black- 

 berry plantations. The only practical method as yet discovered for checking the 

 ravages of this insect, is, to cut off the ends of the infested canes and burn them. 

 This operation should always be performed either in the morning or during cool, 

 wet weather, else many of the insects will escape ; and at all times the severed 

 shoots should be immediately dropped into bags, and in them carried to the place 

 where they are to be burned, and there emptied into the fire. If every one having 

 blackberry bushes in their gardens would practice this method of destruction, this 

 pest would soon cease to do much harm." 



There are species of borers and gall insects that attack these two 

 fruits, but as yet they have not become formidable. All infested canes 

 should be cut out and burned with their contents, or else the pests may so 

 increase as to cause much injury. 



The larvae of the Selandria rubi y an insect nearly related to the 

 imported currant worm, and known as the raspberry saw-fly, is 

 destructive in some regions. It is semi-transparent, and so like the foliage 

 in color that it could scarcely be detected, did not the ragged, perforated 

 leaves indicate both its presence and its mischief. This worm measures 

 half an inch in length, when fully developed. It has two black eyes like 

 spots, upon a green head, and usually a slightly fuzzy body. The remedies 

 recommended are the same as those used against the currant worm. I 

 have had no experience with this pest. 



The Orange-rust (Uredo rubrum) is one of the worst of foes to both 

 the blackberry and raspberry; the Rubus Occidentalis, or black-cap family, 

 suffering the most, usually. I have seen fields of the Early Wilson and 

 Kittatinny blackberries, in New Jersey, that presented a melancholy 

 appearance. It is believed to be very contagious, and it can be spread 

 by both trimmer and pickers. Mr. Chas. A. Green, of Monroe county, 

 N. Y., writes : " The end plant of a row in my garden was affected, and I 

 let it remain, as an experiment. In three years, nearly every plant in the 

 row was more or less diseased. We have tried picking the leaves and 

 cutting back the canes, without relief,, and have found that the only safe 

 method is to dig out and destroy all affected plants without delay." Mr. 

 Fuller says that, " application of lime, salt, or some similar substance, may 

 check the disease ; but I know of no remedy except that of rooting up 



' " It cannot be distinguished /rom Psylla tripunctata, Fitch (Catalogue of Homoptera, etc. ), and, what is most singular, 

 the same species is very common on pine-trees all over the eastern part of the continent, from Florida to Canada." 



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