40 



CURRANT. 



Black Currant Gall-Mite. Phytuptus rihis, Westwood. 



PJu/toptiis infested buds; PJnjtojitux (? si).), enormously magnified. 



The attack of the Black Currant Gall-Mite was again reported as 

 occurring at various localities in the early part of the year, from 

 February, when the buds were first beginning to show the peculiar 

 swelled growth which distinguishes those attacked by the Mite from 

 the natural form, up to the middle of April or beginning of May, when 

 the work was in progress of removing the " galled " buds fi'om the 

 infested shoots. These round diseased masses of abortive growth, like 

 small balls of green leaf-scales, may be about the size figured above, 

 but often twice that size or more, and on opening them they will be 

 found to contnin (probably in great numbers) the minute " Gall-Mite" 

 which has caused their growth. This is too small to be discernible by 

 the unassisted eye, but with magnifying powers will be seen to be of 

 the long narrow cylindrical shape figured above. It is furnished, 

 throughout its life, with two pairs of legs, placed near the head 

 extremity. This, it will be seen, is a little enlarged before it narrows 

 rapidly into the somewhat snout-like or bluntly pointed proboscis. 

 The Mite is also furnished with a few long bristles, and is hatched 

 from an egg. 



This attack has been so frequently alluded to, that it seems 

 unnecessary to repeat the descriptions of the attack sent in from 

 different localities during last season ; but it may be observed that the 

 infestation is one which is troublesome and wasteful enough, even on 

 the small scale of private Currant growing, but where this is multiplied 

 by acres, as in the regular Currant plantations, the losses, consequently 

 on failure of crop first, and afterwards from injury to the health of 

 bushes of which the leafage is thus checked in development, are 

 very serious. The attack is now widespread, and is certainly to 



