MAGPIE MOTH. 
85 
especially mixtures of sulphur and soft-soap applied as syringings; 
these run down the shoots and lodge in the crannies and between the 
buds and the stem, and thus clog up the nooks which shelter most of 
the mites not in the buds. 
The following recipe, given by Mr. Arthur Bull, would probably be 
very serviceable, as boiling the sulphur with some lime would make it 
dissolve :— 
“ I use a dressing of two parts sulphur and three parts lime boiled 
together in water (2 lbs. sulphur and 3 lbs. lime, 3 galls, water), which 
is further diluted at the rate of two or three pints to a large pail of 
water, applied with a syringe to the infested bushes; the effect is to 
keep the ‘ spider ’ down, and that little or no damage is done. It 
seems difficult to clear the garden altogether.” 
Another recipe, to save the trouble of boiling the lime, is as 
follows :—Take of sulphuret of lime 4 ozs. and of soft-soap 2 ozs., to 
each gallon of hot water. The soap and sulphuret to be well mixed 
before the addition of the water, which is to be gradually poured on, 
stirring being continued during the process. This mixture may be 
used as a syringing, but, if poured in thick condition on the stems 
about a foot or two from the ground and let run down into the centre 
of the bushes, it would choke myriads of the minute creatures. Good 
waterings, and all treatment calculated to promote hearty growth, 
would be likely to be of service. 
Where attack is as bad as that described by Mr. Bull, probably the 
best treatment is to clear the bushes and burn them (or any rubbish at 
hand) where they stood , or to put a couple of shovelfuls of fresh gas- 
lime where each bush stood, so as to kill the mites that may remain. 
They cannot fly, but are easily dispersed on leaves blown by the wind, 
or by crawling. 
The attack is considered to be worst in North Britain, but it 
certainly comes .as far south as Isleworth, as it appears slightly in my 
own garden. 
Magpie Moth ; Currant Moth. Abraxas grossulariata , Stephens. 
The caterpillars of the Magpie Moth sometimes do a great deal of 
mischief, both in gardens and fruit-farms, by stripping the Currant 
and Gooseberry leafage. 
The following note regarding their appearance was forwarded by 
Mr. S. L. Mosley, Beaumont Park, Huddersfield, who also remarked, 
regarding the plant which he noticed to be preferred for food :— 
“ Most of my observations of Magpie Moth have been on Currant, 
