102 AGRICULTURE. 



cultivation, it may be used in the future as a fruit producer. 



2. The Black Currant, which came from Europe. The 

 fruit is black, and has a peculiar odor. 



3. The Red Currant, with berries red and white. 

 ENEMIES OF GARDEN CROPS. In connection with field 



crops we referred to the enemies under two heads insects 

 and diseases. These enemies are also to be found in the gar- 

 den, and, as garden crops are relatively more valuable than 

 field crops, they should be watched very closely. Many of the 

 field insects will be found in the garden, especially the many 

 small insects called by the general name "flies," which, of 

 course, are quite different from our house flies. Then there are 

 caterpillars of many sizes and colors, some of which closely 

 resemble or " imitate " in color the plants on which they feed. 

 A very common enemy is the cutworm. Frequent cultivation 

 and the turning up of the soil will bring them to light. The 

 birds will pick them up. Diseases are the second-class of 

 enemies, which appear in so many forms, variously named rust, 

 leaf blight, anthracnose, mildew. Strawberries, for example, 

 are greatly injured in producing fruit because of leaf-blight. 

 Spraying with sulphate of copper (Bordeaux mixture) before 

 the fruit begins to enlarge will check it. In the diseases of 

 currants, gooseberries, etc., the same may be used. Full 

 instructions as to what to use and how to apply the various 

 preventives may be got in the bulletins of the various Depart- 

 ments of Agriculture. All that need be said here is that thrifty 

 plants grown in well-tilled soil, kept clean from weeds and 

 rubbish, and properly fertilized, are least likely to be attacked 

 by disease. 



EARTHWORMS. These must not be confused with cut- 

 worms, wireworms, and other insects that destroy crops. 

 Earthworms play a very important part in working over soil 

 and in producing fine mold. Their effect may be noticed 

 especially in lawns. They come to the surface at night and 

 after rains, bringing up soil from beneath. 



