149 
latter end of February, or beginning of March, or 
more properly just before the bloom begins to 
expand, or rather while the petals are folded up, 
the bush should be washed twice in the course of 
two or three days, with the Mixture (No. 3.) 
The middle of sunny or mild days should be 
chosen for the performance, as at such times they 
will be chiefly out of their retreats, which natu- 
rally aftbrds a better opportunity for the accom- 
plishment of their destruction. If through any 
neglect the performance has not taken place, it 
may be applied after the fruit is well set. To 
make the Mixture go far and to prevent extra- 
vagance press the finger tight on the engine pipe, 
and let it come out like fine rain. Two boys 
will be required to wisk the bushes with brooms or 
birch branches ; twelve gallons will do sixty mo- 
derate sized trees ; the whole may be applied in 
twenty minutes. 
Birds. — Birds in the winter and spring 
months commit great depredations on this bush 
by unfolding the cortical part of the bud, and 
picking out the interior for their support, and 
from the scales or cuticles being left it in general 
assumes nearly its original form, except to the 
minute observer. Thus the proprietor of a small 
garden may be deprived of the greatest portion of 
his crop without knowing or having the least sus- 
picion of the cause. The SpiuTow appears to be 
the greatest enemy ; the Bluecap and Spink also 
