ought to encourage him greatly in this walk is, that this department of science has been hitherto so little cultivated, that it is impofsible for any one who engages in it seriously, not to make many great and important discoveries that will necefsarily insure respectability to himself among his compatriots, while it will at the same time engage the mind in a pleasant occupation that will never fatigue; though it affords a never ceasing employment to the mind, while it, at the same time, induces such habits as in the most natural manner tend to promote bodily health in a most eminent degree.

On an undescribed Disease of the Gooseberry Bush. To the Editor of Recreations in Agriculture, &c.

SIR,

I AM much pleased with your frequent recurrence to subjects of utility in rural economies, and hope you will continue to give us information on these subjects from time to time. I am satisfied that your account of the gooseberry caterpillar is correct, and that it may be rendered harmless at least, if it cannot be extirpated by the measures you recommend; for I have followed it exactly, and am fully sensible of the benefit I have already derived from it. I have also tried what you recommend respecting slugs, which have done me unspeakable damage this season; but though I have destroyed immense numbers within the last month, they are still so numerous that I begin

but I shall persevere. A friend advised me to try to get a parcel of sea gulls and put them into my garden, which is walled round; for he says the gulls touch no sort of vegetable, and as they do not scrape with their feet, living entirely upon slugs and other soft insects, I am determined to try them, and have already taken measures to procure some of them. If I should prove successful I shall let you know the result of this experiment.

The intention of my troubling you at present is to inquire if you, or any of your correspondents, (shall you be so good as publish this in your Index Indicatorius, or otherwise) can give me any information respecting the cause and cure of a disease that I have observed affects some of my gooseberry trees that I never took notice of before, though it is perhaps very common.

Toward the beginning of May I observed some of the leaves of one of my bushes covered all over with a number of small dark-coloured spots, not above the size of pins points; there were no holes. These spots gradually augmented in size, and became more conspicuous, and then appeared of a dark brownish colour, inclining to the violet. As these grew larger the general colour of the leaf became pale and sickly, gradually acquiring a yellowish hue. The spots now became very confpicuous, and spreading wider cover nearly one half the leaf. Soon after they had attained this state I observed that the stalk of the leaf had become brittle, so that the slightest touch made it break short, over just where it adhered to the stem. In a few days the leaves began to drop off, and gradually accumulated in heaps about the bottom of the bush,

ought to encourage him greatly in this walk is, that this department of science has been hitherto so little cultivated, that it is impofsible for any one who engages in it seriously, not to make many great and important discoveries that will necefsarily insure respectability to himself among his compatriots, while it will at the same time engage the mind in a pleasant occupation that will never fatigue; though it affords a never ceasing employment to the mind, while it, at the same time, induces such habits as in the most natural manner tend to promote bodily health in a most eminent degree.

On an undescribed Disease of the Gooseberry Bush.
To the Editor of Recreations in Agriculture, &c.

SIR,

I AM much pleased with your frequent recurrence to subjects of utility in rural economies, and hope you will continue to give us information on these subjects from time to time. I am satisfied that your account of the gooseberry caterpillar is correct, and that it may be rendered harmless at least, if it cannot be extirpated by the measures you recommend; for I have followed it exactly, and am fully sensible of the benefit I have already derived from it. I have also tried what you recommend respecting slugs, which have done me unspeakable damage this season; but though I have destroyed immense numbers within the last month, they are still so numerous that I begin

but I shall persevere. A friend advised me to try to get a parcel of sea gulls and put them into my garden, which is walled round; for he says the gulls touch no sort of vegetable, and as they do not scrape with their feet, living entirely upon slugs and other soft insects, I am determined to try them, and have already taken measures to procure some of them. If I should prove successful I shall let you know the result of this experiment.

The intention of my troubling you at present is to inquire if you, or any of your correspondents, (shall you be so good as publish this in your Index Indicatorius, or otherwise) can give me any information respecting the cause and cure of a disease that I have observed affects some of my gooseberry trees that I never took notice of before, though it is perhaps very common.

Toward the beginning of May I observed some of the leaves of one of my bushes covered all over with a number of small dark-coloured spots, not above the size of pins points; there were no holes. These spots gradually augmented in size, and became more conspicuous, and then appeared of a dark brownish colour, inclining to the violet. As these grew larger the general colour of the leaf became pale and sickly, gradually acquiring a yellowish hue. The spots now became very confpicuous, and spreading wider cover nearly one half the leaf. Soon after they had attained this state I observed that the stalk of the leaf had become brittle, so that the slightest touch made it break short, over just where it adhered to the stem. few days the leaves began to drop off, and gradually accumulated in heaps about the bottom of the bush,

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leaving the stalks naked with the berries only adhering to them.

At the first view, a bush in this condition bears a near resemblance to one that has been stripped of its leaves by means of the caterpillar; and I am persuaded I may have often seen this disease before without remarking it, having concluded that it had been bared of its leaves by the caterpillar; but a slight attention will enable any one to distinguish between these two cases. When the ravage has been done by the caterpillar the foot-stalk of the leaf adheres still to the stem, and no leaves are to be found below; in this case the branches are more completely bared, and the leaves are found thick strewed on the ground. The consequence of both, I presume, is nearly the same in regard to the fruit; for I can have no doubt but the berries will never attain maturity.

There is great reason to believe that these spots are the effect of the operations of an insect; but it must be one of a kind different from the caterpillar, and of a very minute size, for no appearance of any kind of animation can be discovered by the naked eye, or even by a single lens, and I had no other glasses to examine them. I request what information you can give respecting this disease; and if it be unknown to you, I hope you will be so obliging as to give this an early insertion in your Recreations, to direct the attention of observers towards this subject at the present time, when, I make no doubt, but it may be perceived in many gardens.

Wishing succefs to your laudable undertaking, I remain, with esteem, sir, your most humble servant,