44 CURRANT. [1899 



presence. In this case the clean plants, which were transplanted to the 

 fruit farm at Ridgmont, where there is infestation, did not escape the 

 pest. A number of buds were found by Mr. Newstead to be badly 

 infested. 



Some Black Currant plants imported from the Continent (presumed 

 to be mite-proof), which have been growing for a year in close contact 

 with diseased bushes at Newton Farm, Newton, Glasgow, N.B., under 

 the observation of Mr. John Speer, up to date of report on Dec. 5th 

 showed no external signs of disease. But we need another season's 

 observation to test condition definitely. 



Amongst various points suggested by the above observations, one 

 very important practical point is the confirmation it gives to the utter 

 uselessness of expecting to grow large areas of Black Currants without 

 infestation of the Gall Mite. This point has repeatedly been noticed, 

 and by some of our soundest observers, to be the case ; but it adds 

 further force to the arguments to find that plants placed in non-infested 

 localities preserved the shoots from the ground perfectly clean, yet 

 if placed, as above mentioned, in or at a given distance * from an 

 infested area became infested by the mite-tenanted galls. 



To a certain degree the experiments may save trouble, as, for 

 instance, in attempts made to counteract the infestation by cutting 

 down bushes to get a new clean growth, and in dressing the ground 

 round the base of the Currant stems with chemical applications in 

 winter to kill mites. The plan of cutting down the stems has been 

 one of those tried for some time back, though never, I believe, with 

 success for more than possibly a year or two, and (so far as I am aware) 

 the cut-down plants have not been moved from the infested plots, 

 which would quite account for the failure of the experiment. 



In what way the mites are conveyed, or convey themselves, as in 

 the above instance, over a more or less extensive area we do not 

 know. Where bushes stand close together, and also in the fruit- 

 gathering season, workers are going to and fro amongst them, it is 

 obvious that mites may easily spread, or be spread, from the bushes, 

 especially at the time when the mites are migrating (see p. 41) from 

 old galled buds to shelter at the base of those which in the middle of 

 summer are just beginning to form. 



But where transit has to be made above or on clear ground, the 

 method of operation is still unknown. The plumage of birds might of 

 course afford one method of carriage, and also where the galled buds 

 have grown to the stage at which in drying up they open like a loosely 

 made rosette the dried abortive leaves might be blown by the wind 

 with the mites adhering. It can hardly be supposed that the mites 



* The actual distance at which the plants were separated from the infested 

 area was about fifty yards. 



