THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, May 18, 1858. 90' 
imagine, that the large leaves would keep the blossoms 
too dark, when fully expanded; but this is not the case 
practically, as enough of air and light passes in by the 
sides, and the openings between the leaves, to keep 
the flowers robust, and to cause them to set freely. 
When thus set, the size of the leaves is of importance, 
in keeping the fruit comfortable, by preventing radia¬ 
tion. Dull weather is chosen for, first, the partial, and 
then the total removal of the Laurel branches; but, 
with the exception of robber, strong, and foreright 
shoots, disbudding is done but very partially, until all 
danger from frost is over. The young shoots thus, for 
a time, take the place of the Laurel branches. 
From the notes of correspondents, the inquiries of 
amateurs, the complaints and hints of gentlemen, and 
my own observation as to the practices that obtain in 
many large places, I might multiply these diversified 
examples to any extent. It would, however, be much 
more satisfactory to have the opinions, and the circum¬ 
stances, and the plans of others detailed ; that thence 
an inference might be obtained, either that, under 
many circumstances, the want of protection would in 
‘ general involve no want of prudence, or careful fore¬ 
sight ; or that, in other circumstances, retarding and 
protecting would constitute the elements of safety: 
and if the latter idea should be held by a considerable 
; portion, then it would be well to ascertain how far, 
j and how much, moveable mediums of protection are 
superior to those, like branches, that are fixed, and 
; permanent for the time. It. Fish. 
THE GOOSEBERRY—ITS ENEMIES. 
Most of the readers of The Cottage Gardener are, 
: doubtless, but too familiar with the destructive charac¬ 
ter of the Gooseberry caterpillar. It is not alone this 
character, to which I would invite attention, but also 
to the extent of its ravages. In these parts it has been 
on the increase for years, and about the Metropolis I 
am informed, on respectable authority, that many acres 
j of bushes have been nearly destroyed in various 
directions. ~ 
It is affirmed that Mr. Manser, of Kew, a great 
market-gardener, last year lost half a dozen acres in his 
grounds ; and that those great market-gardeners of the 
Fulham fields, Bagley, Willcox, Matyear, &c., also 
! suffered to a considerable extent. In the extreme 
south of the kingdom, as well as the north, there are 
loud complaints, and if something is not done to stay 
1 their ravages, the consequence may prove serious 
! indeed; for it may be called a national fruit, and 
especially the poor man’s fruit. 
Soot has been recommended for some years, but, 
strange to say, it has only of late received a fair trial; 
I suppose, because we are too familiar with it, and it is 
, inexpensive. As I have suffered exceedingly during 
the previous two years, from the ravages of this pest, I 
l determined, last spring, to give the soot a thorough 
trial. Our gardens here are in two main divisions, 
each a square, and surrounded by a wall; and in both 
divisions there are Gooseberry bushes, nearly 100 in 
each, young and old. I, therefore, concluded on 
dressing all the trees in the south division, and leaving 
the other undressed. I commenced operations the 
\ moment they came into leaf, and smothered the trees 
i with fresh soot; not the burnt-up soot which has been 
burned over and over again, but fresh, black, woolly¬ 
looking soot, which, indeed, alone contains its full 
share of properties. In about a fortnight, however, 
the soot had become much dispersed by rains and 
wind ; and, although I saw no signs of the caterpillar, 
yet I felt extreme jealousy. I, therefore, had the 
bushes dressed again, and from their having been 
much infested with red spider, I threw a few handsful 
of sulphur amongst the soot. But I did more, I had ! 
the bushes syringed with soft-soap water previous to 
dusting them. 
The soap water was intended to make the soot ad- | 
here, and this it accomplished as far as desirable. 
I have now to report, that I never had my bushes ' 
in better order. I will not affirm that there was no ! 
caterpillar, a few certainly made their appearance, but I 
they were so rare, that we might hunt many bushes 
before we found a score of caterpillars. 
On the other hand, the northern division of the 
garden was much infested, many of the bushes | 
being half stripped. And this shows, that in ex- j 
periments undertaken with a view to come at solid j 
Facts, we should always take care to represent both 
sides of the question. Our readers will see, that this fe 
shows well in favour of soot, and when we consider 1 
that the latter is so useful as a manure, and, withal, so [ 
easily obtainable in all counties, and under all circum- j 
stances, it will be obvious, I think, that it becomes all j 
parties interested, to take care that their soot is hus- ! 
banded in due time to this very end. 
Of course, I cannot, under one season’s trial, pledge 
myself that the thing is conclusive. I have Simply 
detailed facts, and shown, perhaps, a bias, to which I 
freely confess, in favour of soot; and that as will 
appear for a double reason. 
But, after all, I little doubt that the best plan would 
be to attack this pest in the pupse state ; and, under 
this impression, to dig in, or otherwise get rid of, the 
surface soil beneath the bushes. This is no idea of 
mine originally, neither by any means new; it was 
suggested strongly by Loudon, or some writer in his 
“ Magazine,” a score years since, when the whole 
question underwent much consideration. It seems 
to be a well-recognised fact, by persons versed in 
natural histor ymaxters, that when the caterpillars have 
attained a certain maturity, they in due time descend, 
and burrow in the soil beneath the bushes ; there they 
spin cocoons around them, and from these emerge both 
summer flies and those for the ensuing spring. 
These things admitted, it is pretty obvious that two 
distinct periods offer themselves for operations on the 
soil beneath the bushes ; the one, probably about the 
beginning of July ; the other, any time through the 
winter. > 
For my own part, I shall operate round all my 
bushes, if all be well at the end of September ; or, in 
other words, as soon as I perceive the foliage begin¬ 
ning to decay ; and, in due time, I will inform the 
Gooseberry readers of The Cottage Gardener of the 
mode of operation pursued, with ultimately its effects. 
I must now advert to another most serious enemy of 
the Gooseberry bush—the red spider. This foe is 
more insidious by far ; for whilst the devastations pro¬ 
duced by the caterpillar are speedily manifest, a bush, 
or tree, is generally three parts ruined before most 
parties are aware of the damages by red spider. I 
have seen cases within these two years, in which these 
two garden scamps have fought against each other in 
the work of destructions ; knowingly or otherwise. 
I would advise parties to look sharp after this spider, 
and to use, by all means, sulphur in the extirpation, ot 
it. We know of nothing better at present, and the 
worst of it is, that sulphur is rather expensive ; how¬ 
ever, we must set our heads to work, and try to econo¬ 
mise it. I can think of nothing more likely than a 
combination with soot; and, in such a case, a couple 
of pounds of sulphur might probably prove sufficient 
for a wheelbarrowful of soot. And here, let me observe, 
that some management is required as to both sulphur 
and soot; unless they are both in a subtle and lively 
state, when applied, the labour will be only half per- 
