8o FRUIT TREES AND THEIR ENEMIES 



the bushes in winter. R, ribis appears to migrate 

 to lettuce. 



Remedies. — The same as for Apple Aphis. 



Cnrrant Gall Mite. Big bud. {Eriophyes ribis), — This 

 attacks the black currant, and it has also been recorded 

 on red and white currants. Its presence is easily recog- 

 nised by the buds appearing very large and round, 

 instead of pointed. The infested buds contain numbers 

 of long, tapering white mites, only visible under a 

 strong hand lens or microscope. These buds may 

 open out, but do not, as a rule, develop, and they 

 wither as the season progresses. The mites and eggs 

 are both present in the buds in January and February, 

 and the latter begin hatching in March. From early 

 May to the end of June the mites migrate in numbers 

 to other parts of the bushes, and lay their eggs in the 

 new buds ; these are found already to contain mites 

 inside them in July. Besides harbouring in the buds, 

 the mite locates itself in the roots, and under the loose 

 rind. 



Remedies. — No winter treatment of the bushes has 

 proved completely effectual. Dusting the bushes at 

 intervals of a fortnight in the spring and early summer 

 with a mixture of one part of ground quicklime and 

 two of sulphur is said to have had good results ; but 

 others have found it useless. Picking off the big buds, 

 and removing any badly infested branches, keeps the 

 attack within bounds, when it is a mild one ; but even 

 cutting the bushes down to the ground will not master 

 it entirely, and often the new shoots will come up from 

 the roots more infested than the old ones. Cuttings 



