64 
GOOSEBERRIES. 
Magpie Moth. Abraxas Grossulariata , Steph. 
Abraxas Grossulariata. 
Moth and Caterpillar. 
Mr. W. Ward, writing from Stoke Edith Gardens, Herefordshire, 
mentions the caterpillar of the Gooseberry or Magpie Moth as one 
that is very troublesome in June and July, but that he has not had 
much attack after the dressings of hot lime and soot given to clear 
sawfly caterpillar from the bushes. (See Gooseberry Sawfly). 
Mr. W. Taylor mentions the caterpillars of the Magpie Moth as 
being certainly not numerous in the neighbourhood of Longleat; and 
crossing from Wilts to Essex, Mr. Shipman mentions from West Ham 
that the Magpie Moths seen in 1880 were destroyed ; little harm was 
done by the caterpillars in 1881, and in this year, 1882, not one was 
to be seen. 
Gooseberry and Currant Sawfly. Nematus ribesii , Curtis. 
The first two communications draw attention to the serviceableness 
of hellebore applied in a fluid state by means of a watering-pot, or as 
a spray, for destruction of the caterpillars. 
Mr J. Busfeild, of Eipon, mentions having good success in 
clearing attack of the caterpillars from his Gooseberry bushes, by 
using a decoction of hellebore, so that it should fall as spray on the 
infested leaves. A large white-washing brush was dipped in the fluid 
and shaken nearly dry, and then so jerked against the branches as to 
send a good covering of spray well up beneath the leaves, which by 
this means were entirely cleared of the plague. 
Mr. Geo. Brown, writing from Watten Mains, Caithness, says:— 
“ Gooseberry Sawfly has been a source of annoyance to all gardeners 
in the north this season. Our bushes have literally been covered 
