38 
NOTES OF OBSERVATIONS 
from using poison. Mr. McLaren, Hopetoun, Queensferry, notes that 
a. solution of alum in water, applied lightly by means of a watering- 
can, is useful in clearing the Caterpillars. Mr. D‘Urban, writing from 
Exeter, notes the Sawfly as very destructive in the middle of May to 
Gooseberries and to Red Currants, but afterwards it did not give much 
trouble, the long drought being apparently unfavourable to the insect; 
and he adds a caution regarding danger in the use of hellebore powder 
from risk of the powder not being thoroughly washed off the berries. 
Mr. Matheson, after mentioning that when bushes are very badly 
attacked dry hellebore-powder puffed over and through the bushes 
kills all it touches, adds that a good washing with the garden-engine 
will clean the fruit of the powder, but that it is very necessary for the 
operator to well protect the nostrils, for the powder has a most 
irritating effect, causing excessive sneezing.* Mr. Matheson notes 
that the Gooseberry Caterpillar was very injurious this year at 
Addington, Bucks, from the middle of May. He remarks that the 
bushes require careful watching from the first unfolding of the leaf. 
The first sign of the Caterpillar presence is generally some of the 
leaves looking as if riddled with dust-shot, and every leaf so attacked 
should be picked off at once and destroyed, being the home of two or 
three dozen Caterpillars, which in a few days would spread over many 
leaves. 
At Kingsnortli, Kent, the Caterpillar was so abundant that the 
bushes in many gardens were almost defoliated. Mr. Hart notes that 
he prevented serious injury to liis own bushes by shaking down the 
Grubs whilst quite small and crushing them on the ground, and by 
hand-picking later on. Near Guildford the Caterpillars were at work 
by the 20th of April in a warm garden. Mr. Long mentions the 
Gooseberry Caterpillar as very numerous this season at Henlow, 
Herts; and Mr. Fitch notices that the Caterpillars were so numerous 
that the Gooseberry and Currant bushes in his own garden at Maldon 
were more or less defoliated by them. He mentions that hand-picking 
failed to check the ravages as it had done before, but conjectures that 
this was from the operation not being as carefully performed. The 
first brood of Caterpillars, which were very abundant at the beginning 
of June, appeared most partial to the Gooseberry bushes ; the second 
brood, which appeared about the middle of July, chiefly infested the 
Currants. At Little Faringdon, Lechlade, the Rev. F. Adams notes 
the Caterpillars as having almost destroyed the Gooseberries and 
Currants, and that the crop was only saved by hand picking, and 
* Looking at the unpleasant effects on the operator, the risk of the berries not 
being washed clean, and the serious illness likely to follow on hellebore-powder 
being swallowed, the remedy appears to me only admissible under the most careful 
superintendence.—E d. 
