181 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
at best it only cheeked the progress. I then re¬ 
sorted to several compositions said to be death 
on the whole louse tribe, but without effect. Next, 
I smoked some of them thoroughly with a mix¬ 
ture of lard and sulphur. The rising fumes did 
not annoy them, except where the heat was suffi¬ 
cient to crisp the leaves. Then, as a last resort 
I made a strong decoction of tobacco, and applied 
it as well as I could ; some of the lousy branches 
were held in the liquor several minutes ; but all 
in vain—even those that took the ducking, were 
as well to do as ever the next day. 
Last year for the first time, I lost my entire crop, 
and fear that most of the stems are dead. I did 
not remove any leaves last year ; perhaps, by do¬ 
ing so I might have saved my crop ; but it is a 
great labor and promises but little ; besides, the 
leaves are necessary to the perfection of fruit. I 
trim the shrubs several times in the season and 
keep them clear from grass and weeds. Some¬ 
times I cover the ground with chip-manure, some¬ 
times with forest leaves. 
Now, Mr. Editor, as the Currant is regarded 
as an indispensable fruit in most country families, 
and as this insidious foe, which I have been com¬ 
bating so long in vain, is spreading throughout 
this part of Vermont—how much further I do not 
know—will you or some of the readers of the 
American Agriculturist, suggest an effectual reme¬ 
dy. That you may the better do so, I will give a 
more minute description of the insect. 
Early in the Spring, before the first leaves are 
half grown, red spots appear on the upper sur¬ 
face of the leaf. Turning up the leaf nothing can 
now be seen by the naked eye ; but in a few days 
a small nit becomes visible, and from these origi¬ 
nate the lice. They gradually become quite 
large, when a pair of slender wings project from 
their backs, and they pass off in the form of a 
little fly. Others succeed and go through the 
same process, till the under side of the leaf is cov¬ 
ered with them, the redness on the upper surface 
increasing in the same ratio. As the stem grows 
and other leaves form, they suffer in the same 
way. After the weather becomes warm and the 
lice thick and large, a multitude of green flies, 
about the form and size of the common house-fly, 
swarm about and light upon the bushes, as if 
greatly interested in the case ; but what connec¬ 
tion there is between the fly and the louse I have 
not been able to learn, I think the one does not 
generate the other. The Currant louse is unlike 
any other that I have seen, nor have I seen it on 
any other vegetable. No change of the elements 
or of location seems to affect them. Their pro¬ 
gress, spite of everything that I have tried is on¬ 
ward. In Middlebury, twenty miles from this 
place, I saw a gentleman last Summer, clipping 
leaves from his Currant shrubs from the same 
cause. What can we do to destroy this little 
pest and save our fruit. Danl. Goodyear. 
Hinesburgh, Chittenden Co., Vt., 1858. 
REMARKS. 
The flies alluded to are probably the Honey- 
dew flies ( Tephritis melliginis ) which hover around 
plant lice for the sweets which they obtain from 
them. A small species of ant is usually found 
guarding a flock of lice, running among, and ap¬ 
parently caressing them, for which kindness the 
lice give forth a sweet fluid which is greedily sip¬ 
ped by the ants. The flies referred to are also 
fond of “honey,” and if they espy the lice in an 
unguarded state, hastily alight upon them and 
with their forefeet rather rudely scratch the backs 
of the lice, and they, not likeing the rough treat¬ 
ment, spirt out the sweet liquid which the flies 
are in quest of, and it would seem, raise a cry for 
their defenders the ants. The latter hastily make 
a “ descent ” upon their enemies and wo to the 
leg or wing which they grapple. The flies usual¬ 
ly beat a hasty retreat, but still hover about for 
another opportunity. We must leave some of our 
experienced correspondents to suggest a remedy 
for the pest described by Mr. Goodyear, and we 
hope they will also watch that destructive insect 
which has within a few yeais past, seriously in¬ 
jured the currant crop by destroying the branches 
themselves. We refer to the Currant Bush Borer. 
Perhaps our enterprising entomological contribu¬ 
tor, A. O. Moore, will capture some of them, and 
with glass and pencil “show them up ” in the 
columns of the Agriculturist. 
— ---- »--♦»- 
To Kill Burdocks. 
There are many ways to exterminate this pest, 
but the following is highly recommended : Let 
the plants grow until Midsummer, when the stalks 
and leaves are full of sap. Then cut off the roots 
with a strong, sharp spade, two or three inches 
below ground, pluck off the plant with a smart pull, 
and stamp the ground firmly over the remaining 
stump. It will seldom sprout again ; but if it does, 
it will be in so weak a state that another applica¬ 
tion of the spade will end the matter. 
We have prepared for the Agriculturist the above 
engraving of a new strawberry (yet unnamed), 
which is under cultivation by Dr. I. M. Ward, of 
Newark, N. J. Dr.W. invites the attention of cul¬ 
tivators, and amateurs to this fruit, which he 
will have in bearing during this month. Our en¬ 
graving—which is an exact representation of the 
size and form of the berry—is from a sketch made 
at the close of the last fruiting season, when the 
plant had, in a measure, expended its strength. 
Dr. Ward says of it: “ Other plants previously 
produced a larger number of ripe berries of uni 
form size.” He claims as the main points of ex 
cellence, or superiority, that it is “ very productive 
—the berries being of uniform large size. They 
are dark in color, firm flesh, and superior flavor, 
and are borne on foot-stalks twelve inches and 
more in hight—the strength of the stalt 
being such as to sustain the fruit, and removing 
all necessity for mulching. The foliage shades 
the ground, so as to prevent, in part, the growth 
of weeds—and is so hardy as not to suffer under 
our coldest Winters, or be thrown out of tin 
ground by frosts.” There will be opportunity t< 
test these claims before the plants will be in inai 
ket. The engraving exhibits a depression when 
we should look for an apex, which shows a pec* 
liarity of type. 
