.V7 :Y- EXE VIES. 



165 



but after the fruit is one-third grown use the quassia decoction only (1 ounce to a 

 gallon 3 pounds to 48 gallons of water), syringing so as to reach the under side of the 

 leaves. In bad attacks pursue the treatment advised for Aphides (page 258, Vol. I.), 

 cutting off all infested shoots that can be spared, and destroy them at once. Remember 

 that the fruit must be clean; therefore, wash it thoroughly with clear water after 

 annihilating the insects. 



Caterpillars. The larvae of the Magpie Moth and Gooseberry Sawfly sometimes do 

 a great deal of injury by stripping the bushes of foliage. See " Gooseberry Enemies." 

 The caterpillars of the Winter Moth often feed 

 on currant bushes under standard fruit trees, 

 and may be destroyed by spraying with Paris 

 green. See " Winter Moth," page 289, Vol. I. 



Gall Mites. Though so small as to render a 

 microscope indispensable in examining them, the 

 Gall Mites are highly destructive. They infest 

 many wild and cultivated trees or plants, and 

 cause the buds of currants to swell greatly, 

 remain unopened, or form sickly growth. Of 

 late years the Black Currant Mite has done 

 serious injury, and appears by some writers to 

 be regarded as a somewhat new enemy, but we 

 have known it for a quarter of a century. 



The Rev. M. J. Berkeley had specimens sub- 

 mitted to him in 1869, and in the same year 

 Professor Westwood described the insect in the 

 Gardeners' Chronicle, from which the accom- 

 panying figures are taken. 



The Currant Gall Mite is T ^ 7 th inch in length, and -g-^th inch in greatest 

 width. It is reproduced by eggs in February and August. The mites may be found 

 active amongst the inner scales of the buds in mild autumns and generally early in 

 spring. The injury they inflict on the Black Currant consists in feeding on the 

 embryonic leaves and flowers, causing the buds to become swollen and abortive. 



Attacked shoots should be sought for every spring, and when found, at once cut off 

 and burned. This prevents general infestations, because mites must have time to 



Fig. 52. CURBANT GALL MITE (PHYTOPHUS EIBIS) 

 AND INFESTATION. 



E, infested growth ; F, clean growth ; G, at- 

 tacked buds showing mites small dots in scales ; 

 H, young mite greatly enlarged ; 7, perfect mite, 

 highly magnified. 



