ese rules.

Pertaining to insects and diseases, I spray my currants twice for the
currant worm with arsenate of lead at the rate of two pounds to fifty
gallons of water.

I also use hellebore (dry powdered form), especially valuable in
destroying the worms when berries are almost ready for market, and on
which it is dangerous to use arsenical poisons. I never was troubled
with the currant worm cane borer. I attribute the absence of this
dreaded insect to my keeping all old wood cut out, which is generally
infested with it.

As to varieties I planted the following: Wilder, Victoria, Prince
Albert, Red Cross, Diploma and White Grape. The Wilder is the best
commercial berry, very productive and large, while the Diploma is one of
the largest fruited varieties in existence, its main drawback consisting
of a straggling habit of growth which requires either tying up the
branches or pruning back somewhat short.

The Prince Albert is late and can be recommended for commercial use.
Victoria is a prolific bearer, fair size fruit and requires little
pruning. Red Cross is large fruited, but shy bearer. The White Grape
meets with little demand as a market berry, fine to eat out of hand and
an excellent table berry.

I also planted a few Black Champion; have not grown it long enough to
know definite results.

The demand for black currants is limited, but the prices are fair. As to
picking would say we pick them when not quite ripe, as the average
housewife claims they jell better than when over-ripe. They must be
picked by the stem and not stripped off--all defective, over-ripe and
bruised berries should be eliminated at the picking.

When the box is being filled a few gentle raps should be given to settle
the clusters into place, as they shake down considerably. All the
conveniences and same character of boxes and crates used in handling of
other small fruits are equally adapted to the currant.

* * * * *

WELCOME THE THRUSHES--THESE BIRDS DO THE FARMER LITTLE HARM AND MUCH
GOOD.--That thrushes--the group of birds in which are included
robins and bluebirds--do a great deal of good and very little harm to
agriculture is the conclusion reached by investigators of the United
States Department of Agriculture who have carefully studied the food
habits of these birds. Altogether there are within the limits of the
United States eleven species of thrushes, five of which are commonly
known as robins