MITES. 59 



some days past, have beeu dropping on the ground in vast quantities 

 from a haystack of this year's hay, got up under unfavourable condi- 

 tions in wet weather. The Mites he in masses of many quarts heaped 

 up upon the ground." 



Mr. Fryer particularly desired information as to whether this 

 infestation was injurious to stock, or crops, or otherwise hurtful. 



At the above date, a communication was also sent me from Kisby, 

 Bury St. Edmunds, by Mr. G. J. Paine, regarding enormous presence 

 of these creatures which were then making their appearance from the 

 stack of Clover saved for seed, of which observations have been given in 

 the foregoing notes, pp. 38 — 40. 



Mr. Paine observed : — "My stack is now covered with the small 

 insects which I have sent you by this post." . . . "I could have 

 no difficulty in sending you a peck of them. Will they be detrimental 

 to anything else than the Clover? " 



On the IGtli of November the following observation, which is of 

 considerable value as confirming the view of the Mites being especially 

 found in hay which had lain in large masses, but uhis little heated, was 

 sent me from luverbroom House, near Garve, Ross-shire, N.B,, by Mr. 

 J. A. Fowler :— 



" By this post I send a small box containing some minute insects, 

 I have never seen them before. They came from a haystack ; owing 

 to a very wet autumn, I could not get the stack made till late in 

 September. The hay was saved in large rucks in the stackyard, 

 waiting for fine weather to put into a stack, consequently the hay hardly 

 heated at all. 



"About a month after the stack was made, we had very severe 

 frosts, 16° Fahr. The following day, on each side of the stack, there 

 was a layer, about 2 in. deep and 6 in. to 8 in. wide, of what was 

 apparently pink sand." . . . " There are still considerable 

 quantities remaining, though it is a month since they first appeared." 



Why the Mites come out in these vast quantities towards, or during 

 autumn, we do not know at present. The very important point that 

 no harm is caused to stock, feeding on the Mite-infested hay (excepting 

 sometimes the irritation of the Mites in being swallowed giving rise to 

 cough), has beeu carefully watched and clearly reported. The 

 ■ following note on the subject was sent me by Mr. Colin Campbell, of 

 Jura, N.B. : — " For the information of your readers I may state that 

 this hay " {i. e.. Mite-infested hay) " was fed to a large fold of in-calf 

 Highland cows, young cattle, horses, and dairy stock, without doing 

 them the shghtest harm, or producing any ill effects." 



Still if we could get rid of the infestation, it would be much better, 

 and any information tending to its prevention, especially as to whether 

 any dressings, such as a good liming of grass-land, had beeu found 



