THE GARDEN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5123, 3 September 1895, Page 3

THE GARDEN.

CURRANT-BORER, CURRANT CLEARWING, CURRANT SPHINX (Mjcrk (ifnUfwmu). [BvT.AV.3imK,FX.B,&t.,Lond.] "' j yi ut Fig. I. Grub; Fig, i. Pupa; both enlarged. Fjg.it, Perfect insect, natural size, altered from Cooke ani) Wriglit. This moth may usually be seen . from September onward. The wings pn {lie perfect moth when expanded, measure about three-quarters of an inch frqm tjp to tip, transparent'; yoins, and a cross-bar near the injdtlle, bjack. ty tho'end'of each wing is a black patch, with copper* ' coloured reflections. Jiody very dark blue, with golden-yellow band on jiAulder, and four rings of same ■Wolir on abdomen. The eggs are laid in tho interstices of the bark or other crevices on the young shoots of currant ■ bushes. Very soon small white grubs appear, which immediately eat their way into the shoot and devourtbe pith. When , about to turn into pupa, each grub eats a hole in the stem sufficiently largeid allow the exit of the'perfect insect:'' It thai 'takes lip a position jiist below tlie Hole, assumes the pupa \\ t dress, and in about a week the perfect moth emerges.' ' *" tranclMsS,'fcoing weakened by fhe boro'j:, (issunjo a stunted appeararjee, anil, frequently large boughs mo ' broken dff, ' sometimes'' by jieir own weighty but more often by ijio wind, fue]r enfeebled condition fendprjnj i' ie n| unable to withstajid &fresh Specimens of currant branches h attacked by this insect have boon received from several districts, jSprayiiig the plants with kerosene n&isiou, tar-water, or whale-oil soitp, lias been found beneficial. The bushesshould befrequcntly examined during Bpring, and any affectei branches carefully removed anc burned. This, done systematically will soon rid the garden of the pest or, at uuy rate, so reduce the nunibo: as to render it comparatively harm JOSS. -. ■:: ."■ , -r, ; Messrs LoWs and Idrns add to thci sale list for 'Mi, i yearlintjs,! 2 heifers.