American Gooseberry Mildew. [dec, 



with rich herbage and a fair amount of shelter, more especially 

 where the farms are not too small, there is no branch of 

 poultry-breeding which offers better returns, if the birds can 

 be properly looked after. On cold, damp land they are better 

 left alone. Skim-milk is a most important part of the food 

 during the final stage of fattening, and the best specimens 

 are generally produced where that is available. Money is not 

 so rapidly realised as with either chickens or eggs, but is received 

 in substantial amounts. One point in favour of turkey-raising 

 is that there is no need to force laying and hatching in the 

 spring, consequently the young stock appear when natural food 

 is becoming abundant, and they do not, therefore, demand the 

 same care as winter chickens. From March to May is quite 

 early enough to bring out the youngsters. Upon chalk and 

 limestone lands, more especially if the elevation is considerable, 

 in a dry, hot summer, there is frequently very little feed, and 

 young turkeys fail to make the growth desired. Hence these 

 districts are less suited for turkey-raising than where the top 

 .soil is thicker and less liable to drought. 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have received infor- 

 mation that the American gooseberry mildew ( Spliaerotheca 

 niors-7ivae)hdiS been discovered in more than 



American Goose- q^-^^ place in England, and as there is reason 

 berry Mildew. , , ^, 



to believe that the disease, in at least one 



case, is of some years standing, they think it desirable to warn 

 all fruit-growers, nurserymen, gardeners and other growers of 

 gooseberries, of the dangers involved. The disease, which is 

 termed American, owing to the extensive damage it has done 

 in America, is of a very serious character, and has rendered 

 the culture of gooseberries unprofitable and even impossible 

 wherever it has appeared. 



The mildew generally becomes visible during the last half of 

 May or the first half of June, when it appears in the form of 

 " glistening frost-like spots " on the fruit on the lower part of 

 the bush, where there is usually dense shade. It then spreads 

 to the leaves and tender shoots. In its earlier stages it has 



