New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 529 



counts for their not being able to return to the asparagus after 

 having been brushed off. In the plot above mentioned the writer 

 has watched this work being carried on successfully. 



The Currant Aphis. 



This species of aphis (Mt/zus ribis* Linn.), was quite abundant 

 on currants at the Station throughout the season. Professor 

 Beach first called my attention to it on May 1, at which time 

 the work of the lice was indicated by the peculiar bladder-like 

 deformities on the young leaves. The portions of the leaves 

 thus affected were of a red color, which deepened a little later 

 in the season to almost crimson. Upon examining the under 

 surface of these leaves a small colony of lice could be found in 

 the depression caused by the galls. Plate XXXVI, fig. 1, is from 

 a photograph of some young currant leaves which show the early 

 stages of the injury. Fig. 2 is from a photograph showing the 

 injured leaves as they appear later in the season. 



Of the many varieties of currants at the Station, the variety 

 " Prince of Wales " was most seriously injured by the lice. 



Although the infested currant bushes were thoroughly sprayed 

 three different times during the summer, the aphis was not suc- 

 cessfully held in check. Probably the most practical method 

 of combating this insect is either to pick off and destroy the 

 first leaves that are infested in the spring, or to dip them in kero- 

 sene emulsion using the emulsion at a strength of one part to 

 from seven to ten parts of water. After the leaves have begun 

 to curl, it is difficult to apply the spray so as to reach all of the 

 lice. , 



Many of the lice were destroyed by parasites and spiders. 

 Judging from our observations, over fifty per cent, were destroyed 

 in this way. 



The Red Spider. 



June 18th we received a letter from Messrs. C. G. Velie & Son, 

 fruit-growers at Marlborough, Ulster county, N. Y., to the effect 

 that great numbers of minute spider-like insects were seriously 

 injuring their raspberry bushes. The letter says, in part, '* They 



♦ Rhopalosiphum ribia and an undetermined species were also abundant. 



34 



