OF INJURIOUS INSECTS. 
87 
be got rid of. Mr. M‘Kinlay, Dingwall, gives the very excellent 
advice that when there is reason to fear an attack the soil should he 
removed to the depth of two inches round the bushes in the early 
spring, and a good sprinkling of lime dusted round each bush. By 
this means the Caterpillars are cleared away and destroyed.* 
With regard to remedies, scattering lime round the bushes was tried 
with fair success, as also putting a bunch of Broom in the middle of 
each bush. Mr. MTunlay also found syringing with water of a warmth 
that was just bearable to the hand was a good means of clearing the 
Caterpillars ; but he cautions as to the necessity of experimenting first 
as to what warmth the foliage will bear, as tender leafage may be 
discoloured or killed by a warmth that may be perfectly safe to use a 
few weeks later. At Bralian Castle, Dingwall, Mr. Simpson reports 
the Caterpillar as very abundant on above 700 Gooseberry bushes in 
June, together with Green Fly which covered the points of the young 
shoots. The bushes were gone over in June, and the Caterpillars and 
Green Fly gathered into baskets and destroyed, and the bushes 
were clear afterwards. Mr. Russell notices the Caterpillars as being 
less abundant than usual at Poltallock, Argyllshire. Mr. Service 
mentions amongst remedies used in the district of Maxwelltown that 
soap-suds syringed on the bushes were very useful; also that it is said 
that fresh tan-bark from the tan pits put on the ground under and 
around the bushes during the winter destroys the insect. Mr. Anderson 
mentions that there were a few larvae in the gardens at Oxenford Castle 
in most years, but for twenty years they have not occurred in any 
quantity. The surface soil under the bushes is annually removed in 
winter, a deep hole is dug in one of the quarters, and in this the 
removed soil, with whatever may be in it, is buried. The soil under 
the Gooseberry bushes is replaced by that out of the hole, with the 
addition of some manure. It will be observed in this plan of treatment 
that Mr. Anderson mentions he has a deep hole dug : this is important 
to notice, as if there was only a light covering many of the larvae would 
not be the worse for being moved, and come up again in the spring to 
infest any Gooseberry bushes near enough for them to crawl to. 
Mr. Wliitton, Coltness, Lanarkshire, notices that the Gooseberry 
Caterpillar (A 7 . Ribesii) made its appearance soon after the bushes were 
in leaf, and first on those that had been attacked the previous season ; 
and he observes that they used sulplmr-powder, as recommended by 
Mr. M‘Cor quo dale, p. 27 of Report for 1879, and found it as efficacious 
as hellebore-powder, without the fear of possible evil consequences 
* The Caterpillars go down into the ground beneath the bushes in the autumn, 
and change to pupae in the spring, and the moths from them come up again when 
the leaves are beginning to come out. The treatment above advised gets rid of them 
thoroughly.—E d. 
