STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 91 



wood. This pruning of the currant has other good results in 

 destroying the larvge of the currant borer that will be found to 

 infest the bushes raore or less. Let this pruning be done in fall or 

 early spring, carefully burning all the canes cut out. 



The gooseberry saw-fly attacks both the currant and goose- 

 berry, and in such numbers that unless measures are taken to 

 destroy them as soon as they appear, the bushes are speedily 

 defoliated. The best means for the destruction of these insects is 

 to thoroughly wet the leaves with water in which poke root has 

 been soaked for a time. This is the most efficacious of anything 

 we have tried. 



The varieties of currants have greatly increased of late years, 

 but whether much improvement has been made over the old sorts 

 there is some doubt. On looking over a list of small fruits I find 

 some twenty-five varieties of currants mentioned. The Cherry 

 takes the lead in size. A new French variety is extolled by those 

 having plants to sell, but we believe it would puzzle even a 

 Frenchman to discover the difference between it and the Cherry, 

 We don't give up the old Red Dutch, believing it to be as good a 

 flavored currant as any cultivated. Besides that, it ripens early, 

 never fails of a crop, and is a vigorous grower. The While Dutch 

 is an old but good variety. The Black English, Black Naples, 

 and Yellow-Fruited Black, are among the best black currants, and 

 similar in habit, size and growth. 



Of gooseberries, Houghton's Seedling has been our choice, 

 although the American Seedling is a more upright grower, and 

 bears larger fruit. These two, with the Mountain Seedling, are 

 varieties that will be found free from mildew. The Houghton 

 Seedling is of a trailing habit, and requires some care in mulching 

 to keep the fruit from the ground. After the plants are well 

 established they will produce from sixteen to twenty-five quarts 

 each. 



The Raspberry and Blackberry 



are so nearly allied that the same culture will apply to both. 

 These fruits will do well in any good, rich soil, but succeed best 

 where it is inclined to be moist. In a dry, sandy soil the more 

 tender sorts will ripen the wood better, but in such a soil thorough 

 mulching is necessary for the raspberry. The ground should be 

 tilled deeply and finely before setting the canes, and manured 

 every year with old manure, or what is better, a compost of muck 



