132 BIGGIE BERRY BOOK. 



foliage, and sometimes by the shriveled appearance 

 of the bark after the leaves have fallen in autumn. 

 Eight or ten borers have been found in a single 

 stem. 



The insects attacking the leaves of the currant are 

 the native and imported currant worms, and the 

 currant span worm. There are numerous others that 

 commit depredations of minor importance, but these 

 three are all that are likely to be troublesome. The first 

 two can be kept in subjection by the use of powdered 

 hellebore, in the proportion of one ounce of hellebore 

 to a pailful of water, sprinkled or sprayed on the 

 bushes (especially on the lower and central leaves) at 

 the first appearance of the insects ; or hellebore and 

 flour, in equal bulk, dusted on when the bushes are 

 wet, will be found effective. For the span worm, if 

 hellebore be used, the liquid should be made three 

 times the usual strength. 



The ordinary green worm, which so commonly 

 attacks both currants and gooseberries in the Eastern 

 States, almost always begins operations quite near the 

 ground in May and June. A sharp watch must be 

 kept for skeletonized leaves, which betray the work 

 of the worm. The hellebore remedy already described 

 is both quick and effective. It is cheap. 



Aphides, or plant lice, sometimes attack the leaves. 

 These are destroyed by spraying with tobacco tea, or 

 by dipping the twigs into a pail containing the same. 

 Spraying with the Bordeaux mixture will prevent 

 damage by the fungous diseases which cause the leaves 

 to drop prematurely in the fall. It is advisable to use 

 this mixture freely on all plantations of currants where 

 the foliage drops early. The use of the ammoniacal 



