152 APPENDIX. 
“ Taking the best-known variety—‘t Black Naples ’—as the type, all 
the other so-called ‘varieties’ (of which Hogg describes fire in his 
‘Fruit Manual,’ and I grow here at the present time over a dozen!) are 
so little different in any specific and permanent character, that it is 
very difficult to distinguish any difference after they have been growing 
alongside of each other and all receiving the same treatment for a few 
years. Whether reputed ‘seedlings’ or acknowledged ‘ selections,’ it 
all ends in the same thing; they are liable to revert to the type, and if 
the best of the garden varieties stray to hovels or waste places, they 
soon deteriorate into the ‘Common Black Currant’—an inferior variety, 
but not proof, even in a wild state, against the attacks of the Phyteptus. 
The most vigorous variety grown (called here ‘ Black Prince’) is quite 
as liable to attack as the weakest—which here is the ‘Common Black.’ 
I have grown numerous seedling plants of the Black Currant; but 
generally they are little better, in vigour and fruiting qualities, than 
the common variety. 
‘The conclusion I draw from my experience of the attacks of the 
Phytoptus on the Black Currant is, that the mite being present, no variety 
is proof against attack. The severity of the attack may vary under 
different conditions, and it is not at all impossible but a variety may — 
be found which the mite will not attack ; but it is not yet in cultivation, 
and the chances are small of its appearance. If it is not a /irst-rate 
variety from a gardener’s point of view, it is of little consequence 
whether it is mite-proof or not !—and it must be mite-proof, or we may 
derive very little benefit from it. 
‘‘The variety you have got under the name of ‘ Bang-up’ is an old 
variety of Black Currant, and not equal to several good strains now in 
cultivation. I rather think it is still grown in Clydesdale gardens, and 
there of course every variety of Black Currant is infested by the Mite. 
“© (2.) Grafting or budding on Red Currant Stocks. — The Black 
Currant does not ‘take’ well on the Red; but it can be done for a 
test; the success of which, however, is-deubtful if the Mite is in the 
neighbourhood, and thriving ! 
*©(3.) Would Standards be more free from the Mites? — Under the 
usual conditions, I am afraid they would not. I will explain the 
reason later on. 
* (4.) Syringing, or Spraying the bushes with a liquid insecticide as a 
remedy.—When done thoroughly, and at the riyht time, it is the best 
check against the spread of the Mite that we possess; but when large 
quantities in private or market gardens are infested with Mites, a 
dozen of which can safely hide in a very small cranny of overhanging 
bark, and remain perfectly secure from any sprayed insecticide, the 
chances of extirpating them are not great! 
‘Dusting with a powder insecticide is less efficacious, because it 
