302 ArrLE. — currant. 



bandinp; the tree in spring would very likely he of use in pre- 

 venting; some at least of the female weevils creeping np the 

 trunk for egg-laying. It is observed by John Curtis that " from 

 various statements it seems that the females will not readily 

 fly, and as they creep up the tree their incursions may be 

 stopped, and the crop saved," by the use of proper bandages. 

 In the past spring I had notes from one observer, suffering 

 much under attack of this weevil, that he thought the females 

 did fly, and therefore banding was considered by him to be no 

 good. It would be therefore well to band a few trees in good 

 time, so as to secure some of the very earliest part of the 

 attack (in case it does come on foot up the trunks) ; and if on 

 examination the little weevils are found in the bandages, then 

 at once to band the rest. 



It will be noticed that the weevil lays no more eggs after 

 the flower-buds begin to expand, so that in fine sunshiny 

 weather the time of egg-laying is much shortened ; also she 

 lays on calm days, sheltering herself from wind or frost ; and, 

 reasoning practically on these habits, it would appear that 

 trees so placed and managed as to have plenty of sunlight 

 and air around them and amongst the boughs are less likely 

 to suffer, than where close-growing trees (even so early as the 

 flowering time) keep sunlight and air from circulating pro- 

 perly, and where, though the buds on the upper parts of the 

 trees expand in their due season, there are many others 

 coming on slowly, on the imperfectly-ripened wood beneath, 

 still available for the weevil. 



Many of the applications noted under the head of "American 

 Blight" and " Codlin Moth," would be of service in preventing 

 attack of this weevil. 



CUREANT. 



Currant Gall Mite. Thytoptus ribis, Westwood. 



The Phytopti, or Gall Mites, are, as mentioned under the 

 head of "Birch Phytoptns," excessively smah creatures of the 

 shape figured, which live together in large numbers, and give 

 rise to diseased plant-growth, often in the shape of galls on 

 the leaves, but sometimes, as in the case of the Black Currant 

 and Nut, causing an abortive growth of the leaf buds. 



They are not true insects, but, like the " Spinning Mites" 

 (the so-called " Bed Spiders " so injurious to the Hop leafage), 



