226 LETTERS TO DR. FLETCHER [CHAP. xx. 



most pleasant co-operation with the Duke of Bedford's 

 staff at the Woburn Experimental Fruit-ground as to 

 endeavouring to find some way to lessen presence of 

 Phytoptus (mite galls), on black-currants. We are going to 

 try grafting on species which are not affected, for one thing ; 

 after I have been trying for I do not know how long to get 

 growers to consider having their bushes in line, with other 

 crops between, I hear to-day from Woburn that it appears 

 as if those which had been grown that way were much 

 the freest from attack. 



February 16, 1898. 



We are having an extraordinarily mild winter, and vegeta- 

 tion is said in some places to be one or two months over- 

 forward. Of course insects are plying their trades heartily 

 underground, but (so far) I do not see any difference in 

 amount of above - ground appearances. If this is so 

 generally, would it be too far-fetched an idea to think 

 it was a still further confirmation of hibernation being 

 constitutional, not an effect of weather ? The underground 

 workers that are sent me are larval " eaters " when not 

 frozen torpid ; also Tylenchus devastatrix (eel-worm) is, 

 I believe, making wild work with clover, which is popularly 

 attributed to Sitones (Pea weevil) larvae. I found the little 

 eel-worm (fig. 47) in quantities in abortive shoots of " stem- 

 sick " clover sent me, and I am giving warning about it. 



January 7, 1900. 



I am very much gratified that you approve of the Index 

 to my Annual Reports. You will believe that it was a 

 weary work to make up our minds what arrangement would 

 be desirable. The time and sight that I worse than wasted 

 on it was incredible, for, I believe, I really complicated 

 matters very much, and doctor, and business manager (Mr. 

 T. P. Newman) spoke so seriously that I left off meddling, 

 and I think Mr. Newstead did the work well. 



I now very gladly forward a copy by book-post, and 

 I should be only too pleased to send any copies that may 

 be desired. My hope is that besides being just a paged 

 reference list, it may stand for a sort of up-to-date " catalogue 

 raisonne" of British Economic Insect attacks. 



June 12, 1900. 



I have owed you an answer to your kind letter so long 

 that on receipt this evening of your very valuable pamphlet, 

 which I am delighted to possess, I sit down at once to write. 



I promise myself a great deal of information from your 

 " Recent Additions," which is obviously of quite exceptional 



