INVESTIGATIONS OF THE BLACK CURRANT GALL-MITE. g 



REPORT AND SUMMARY OF THE 1906 INVESTIGATIONS 

 ON THE BLACK-CURRANT GALL-MITE. 



I have little to add to my previous Report, a more lengthened 

 experience has shown that one part of finely-ground unslaked lime 

 and two parts of sulphur acts rather better than equal parts of these. 



Numerous growers in all parts of the United Kingdom have 

 written reporting the beneficial nature of the application of lime and 

 sulphur. I am now more sanguine than ever of arresting the further 

 spread of this insidious pest, if growers will only continue the treat- 

 ment, and carry out the instructions. Numerous statements have 

 occurred in the Press recommending slaked lime, others state the pro- 

 portions of lime and sulphur wrongly, whilst one states that the mixture 

 may be dusted on by means of a muslin bag tied on the end of a 

 stick ! 



Such statements are most misleading, and have no doubt led many 

 to apply the wrong materials and in different quantities than I have 

 recommended. In some of the horticultural papers these errors have 

 been corrected, but it has been impossible to do that generally. 



Experiments with sulphur in the form of a sprayfluid have been 

 continued, but the results are not anything like so satisfactory as with 

 the dusting. 



EELWORMS. 



As pointed out on p. 2, Eelworms constitute one of the worst 

 pests with which the farmer and horticulturist of the Midland Counties 

 has to contend. 



Experiments are at present being made on a large scale with the 

 treatment of the soil with solutions of carbolic acid. These have been 

 undertaken with a dual object : firstly, to test the efficacy of the 

 different solutions, and to see if one can be obtained that can be profit- 

 ably employed on large areas ; and, secondly, to study the after effects, 

 if any, upon the subsequent crop. 



I hope to be able to publish a short report upon the subject during 

 the present year, in order that farmers and others may be able to treat 

 their land during the winter of 1907-8, if it should seem desirable. 



WOODLICE. 



Only one case has been reported during the year where these pests 

 have been really serious. My correspondent wrote that he had tried 

 almost every remedy, and that all his greenhouses were overrun with 

 the pests. During the summer they were present to such an extent 

 that in one house it was almost impossible to grow anything. 



