THE CURRANT FLY. 3 1 



recommend gathering the fallen currants frequently and burn- 

 ing them. This remedy cannot be relied upon to destroy all 

 the flies as quite a number of maggots leave the fruit before 

 it falls. It can be depended upon to destroy fully half if not 

 more and can be employed to keep them in check. 



Our western correspondent, Dr. W. A. Thornton, thinks 

 that allowing young chickens about the bushes early in the 

 season and large fowls later after the fruit is gathered will keep 

 them in check. 



As the pupae are found only about an inch below the sur- 

 face, they could be destroyed with little trouble by removing 

 the soil to that depth from under the bushes and burying it 

 deep or depositing it on a road or some exposed place. 



Deep spading and turning to bury the pupae, or stirring the 

 surface of the soil after cold weather so as to expose the pupae 

 are methods worth trying. 



As these flies are weak and liable to perish if any obstruction 

 is offered to prevent their coming out of the ground, we would 

 recommend a mulching of coarse straw or hay, several inches 

 deep, placed under the bushes and out as far as the branches 

 extend, and well packed. 



The maggots are footless and unable to crawl much. Tak- 

 ing advantage of this fact we intend to try this season putting 

 a receptacle under the bushes to catch the falling maggots and 

 infested currants when they fall. A cheap grade of tar paper 

 will be used. Strips will be placed each side of the row and 

 fitted closely where they meet, and an inch cleat tacked along 

 the outer and upper edge and at the ends. The paper will 

 slope away from the bushes. It can be made in sections and 

 stored for use a second season. It should be put under the 

 bushes about June 15th and remain until the worms all leave 

 the fruit, or about August 1st, when the fallen fruit and pupae 

 in the receptacles should be carefully collected and burned. 

 But few of the maggots could escape this treatment. 



We have not discovered any parasites to help check the pest. 

 Short bearing years would tend to reduce the numbers. 



