42 CURRANT. [1899 



methylated spirit and water. It appeared that, in the case of these 

 plants being removed to gardens certainly known neither to have or to 

 have had infestation present for many years, if the mites and the 

 mite-galls appeared on the growth from the removed roots, the Phi/topti 

 imist have travelled with the plants, and thus we should gain knowledge 

 of a locality where we might attack the pests. 



My own garden at St. Albans was especially well adapted for 

 experiment, as to my knowledge from personal observation there had 

 been no presence of mite-galls on the bushes for the whole period 

 which I had known it, namely, since September in the year 1887, and 

 I was very glad to take part in the parallel series of observations. 



Accordingly, on November 1st, 1898, a small consignment of six 

 plants of Black Naples, and six of Baldwin's Black Currants, was 

 forwarded to me from the Woburn Experimental Fruit Farm. This 

 dozen of plants had simply been cut down, but nothing else had been 

 done to them ; they arrived in due course, and were immediately 

 planted in my garden in a favourable position for growth. 



Another consignment, also of six plants of Black Naples and six of 

 Baldwin's Black Currants, was sent me two days afterwards. These 

 had likewise been cut down, but had undergone the further treatment 

 of being steeped (both roots and short remaining portions of stems) 

 for two hours in equal volumes of methylated spirit and water. These 

 also were planted promptly ; with the approval of Mr. L. Castle, 

 Manager of the Experimental Fruit Farm, of the localities chosen, 

 and especially of the two consignments of plants being completely 

 isolated. 



Of the twelve plants which had merely been transplanted after 

 being cut down one plant died ; of the twelve which had been subjected 

 to the severe treatment of being steeped for two hours in spirit and 

 water, in addition to being cut down, four died. The remainder made 

 growth naturally, and on examination taken early in November, 1899, 

 a few days over a year from the date of planting, those which had 

 merely been removed averaged in number of shoots about eight each, 

 the length of the shoots being about eighteen inches. The plants which 

 had been washed averaged about five in number in shoots, the length of 

 the shoots being about fifteen inches. From the above points it was 

 obvious that the washing was by no means good for the general health 

 of the plants, and it may be further added that, although the simply 

 moved plants appeared excellently healthy, the others were by no 

 means in equally good condition. This simply refers to conditions of 

 health, not to any considerations of mite presence or mite-gall growth, 

 from which all of the plants on the most careful examination, as well 

 as minute investigation of interior of the bud, proved through the 

 whole course of observations to be entirely free. 



