12 REPORT ON INJURIOUS INSECTS FOR 1907. 



6. u The treatment for eradicating Black Currant Mite recom- 

 mended by you has been very successful, and I am pleased with the 

 results on six acres." 



7. u I treated the bushes this spring and had a crop of fruit, the 

 first for 4 years. The bushes are almost entirely cleared, and I am 

 proposing to repeat the process next year to make a sure clearance. 

 I am pleased I did not resort to the heroic remedy of stubbing up 

 the bushes, as others in this neighbourhood have done, and as I was 

 advised to do. 



u With many thanks for finding us so good a remedy." 



8. " I am enclosing shoots of Black Currants which have been 

 dusted three times once during the last week of March, the third 

 week in April, and the first week in May. I followed out your 

 directions as accurately as possible, and as far as I can see it is an 

 effectual remedy, but I wish you to examine the buds microscopically, 

 as I feel it necessary to be quite sure of the actual results of all 

 experiments." 



Mr. P. Blair Oliphant, the Managing Director of the Ardblair 

 Blairgowrie Fruitgrowers, Ltd., has very kindly furnished the following 

 report : 



GENERAL REMARKS ON PREVIOUS HISTORY OF DISEASE 

 IN THESE PLANTATIONS. 



" The ' big bud ' did not make its appearance until the bushes had 

 been planted three or four years. It then began in the low ground of 

 the West plantation and spread rapidly to the surrounding rows. Baclly 

 infected bushes were cut out and burned, and on bushes which were 

 only slightly infected, the infected shoots were pruned away. 



The experiment was tried of cutting down infected bushes to the 

 ground, and allowing them to come away from the root. But, I think I 

 may say, that in every single case where this w r as done the young shoots 

 developed a double share of the disease. This would seem to indicate 

 that the mite comes either from the root of the bush or from the soil 

 itself. It was noticeable, on the other hand, that the young plants 

 which were substituted for the bushes, which were uprooted, did not 

 develop the disease so readily as those that were cut down. 



Another peculiarity which I have noticed is, that some bushes 

 bear nettle-like leaves, and present a generally unhealthy appearance. 

 There may be a big flourish of blossom on these : but it invariably 

 withers away and comes to nothing. I attribute this to the bushes 

 being weakened by the disease, and being more susceptible to frost and 

 rime. 



In the year 1904 the West plantation bore a heavy crop of fruit, 

 in spite of the fact that 10 per cent, of the bushes failed as described 

 above. The crop amounted to over 3 tons. 



