EXPERIMENTS WITH THE BLACK-CURRANT GALL-MITE. II 



As a result of these experiments it was clearly shown that the mite 

 could be kept in check by the application of lime and sulphur, and 

 i part of the former, and 2 parts of the latter were recommended to 

 some hundreds of growers. 



In the spring of 1907 a still further series of experiments was tried, 

 the quantities of lime and sulphur being : 



1st Dressing. i part of ground unslaked lime, and 4 parts of 

 sulphur. 



2nd Dressing (a fortnight later). i part of lime and 8 parts of 

 sulphur. 



3rd and 4th Dressing (at intervals of a fortnight). Sulphur only. 



This has been, if anything, more successful than the old formula 

 and has the advantage of not burning the leaves or blossoms. 



In his Report for 1906-7, Mr. F. V. Theobald states in reference to 

 my suggested treatment with lime and sulphur, u Migration of the mites 

 is spread over too wide a period to ever hope that this treatment will do 

 any permanent good. But it is encouraging to know that some success 

 has been obtained." 



In order that fruit-growers may judge for themselves, I publish the 

 following extracts, from some hundreds of similar letters, received from 

 fruit-growers in all parts of the United Kingdom. 



i. U I have dressed about 5,000 Black Currant bushes, 4,000 

 three times and 1,000 twice, and they are all free from the mite at 

 present." 



2. "Three years ago there were 40 Black Currant bushes of 

 various sizes, all more or less infested with the mite. On the advice 

 of a local gardener I cut down 7, leaving 33, off which we gathered 

 8 to 10 Ibs. of poor currants. A year ago we gathered about the 

 same quantity. During the early spring I saw your remedy. This 

 April, between the ist and 2oth, I dusted the bushes with the sulphur 

 and lime as you directed, and the result was 4 stone of really good 

 fruit, and to all appearance healthy trees." 



3. u I am pleased to tell you my bushes are practically cleared. 

 I dressed 3 acres of old bushes, very bad, and on inspecting them 

 this morning only found here and there a twig with some buds showing. 

 9/ioths are quite clear, these I dressed three times. On another 12 

 acres of younger plants I cannot find any there. Some others I only 

 dressed twice and they are free." 



4. u I applied the treatment you recommended to a large number 

 of Black Currant bushes with unqualified success. The crop realised 

 over ^"30 when sent to Covent Garden." 



5. u In the spring I cut out from a local paper a copy of your 

 letter re the Black-Currant Gall- Mite. The remedy has been most 

 successful." 



