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picked and burnt as soon as the small red 

 blisters appear; otherwise a lime-sulphur 

 caustic wash should be applied in the late 

 autumn, and again in the spring. Very 

 often in the late summer the leaves 

 turn brown, and on examining one, it 

 will be found that the upper green tissue 

 has been eaten away. This has been 

 caused bj' the caterpillar of the 



Peak and Cherry Sawfly. — These slug- 

 like grubs are dark olive green in colour 

 and slimy, hence their popular name 

 " slug-worm." When full grown they fall 

 to the ground, pupate, and hatch-in about 

 a fortnight. This second brood, which is 

 usually by far the worst, lays its eggs on 

 the leaves, and the larvae on hatching 

 rapidly grow up and after becoming full- 

 grown drop to the ground and pass the 

 winter in the soil. Arsenate of lead 

 should be used in the autumn after the 

 fruit is gathered. 



Plums. 

 By far the commonest and worst 

 enemies of the plums are the Aphides — 

 Aphis pruni, the Plum Aphis, and the 

 Mealy Plum Aphis, Hyalopterus pruni. A 

 soft soap and quassia wash is usually 

 quite sufficient for aphides, but if the 

 species is one which secretes a mealy sub- 

 stance a wash made up of lib. Liver of 

 Sulphur to 100 gallons paraffin emulsion 

 will be found most reliable. Perhaps the 

 most certain aphicide is nicotine, and this 

 should be used before the creature has 

 time to protect itself under a curled leaf. 



GOOSEBEEEIBS. 



We will now turn to the soft fruits. 

 The worst enemy of the gooseberry in 

 most parts is the 



Gooseberry Sawfly, — The larvae often 

 do considerable damage by completely 

 defoliating the bushes. The damage is 

 typical sawfly damage, only the ribs of 

 the leaves being left. The eggs are laid 

 in the early summer in little groups 

 always along the ribs. The larvae, on 

 hatching, remain for a time on the same 

 leaf, eating small holes along the ribs. As 

 they grow they spread over the twigs. 

 When fully grown they pupate in the soil ; 

 a second generation appearing in late 

 summer. The larvae of this brood pass 

 the winter in a cocoon in the soil. Any 



leaves containing eggs should be picked 

 off and destroyed. The small holes should 

 be looked for along the ribs. The colony 

 may then be destroyed. The most reliable 

 wash is arsenate of lead, but as this is 

 more poisonous than Hellebore the latter 

 is usually used instead. Hellebore powder 

 loz. in 2 gallons of soft water in which a 

 small quantity of soft soap has been dis- 

 solved. Do not pick the fruit for a month 

 after spraying for fear of the poison. 



Red Spider often does considerable 

 damage to gooseberries. By constantly 

 sucking the sap they cause the leaves to 

 become mottled and at times quite 

 bleached. In specially bad attacks the 

 leaves are deformed presenting a bunched 

 appearance. The flowers are also attacked. 

 As the spider hibernates under the 

 bark a washing in late February with a 

 strong paraffin emulsion may be resorted 

 to with success. 



Black Ctjebant. 



By far the commonest pest of the 

 black currant is the creature known as the 



Big Bud Mite. — This mite works its way 

 into the bud, gives rise to fresh genera- 

 tions and, they, by their constant sapping 

 of the juices, start up an irritation which 

 causes the bud to swell abnormally. The 

 mite is to be found under cover all the 

 winter. As spring approaches it leaves 

 its shelter and either skips, crawls, or is 

 carried by bees and birds or the clothing 

 of the pickers to other branches. Here it 

 seeks out a new bud and eats its way in. 

 Nothing has been found up to the present 

 to completely keep this pest in check, but 

 whatever is used, it must be borne in mind 

 that the creature is quite protected dur- 

 ing the winter. Sulphur sprinkled on the 

 trees during April, May and June has had 

 good results, also a mixture of lime and 

 sulphur. In both cases the dustings 

 should be done when the bushes are wet. 



Raspbeeey. 



The Raspberry Beetle, a small brown 

 beetle, is the greatest enemy the raspberry 

 has. The beetle itself often does consid- 

 erable damage to the buds and flowers; 

 but the most harm is done in the larval 

 stage. The eggs are laid in the blossom, 

 and the young larvae attack the develop- 

 ing fruitlet. When full grown they fall 



