84 GOOSEBEKRY. 



quite actively on tlie leafage of the Gooseberry twigs sent, which were 

 about four or five inches long, with the leafage well forward, and a 

 little of the blossom bud showing. 



About a month later (amongst specimens sent me from Pitfour Castle, 

 Perth, N.B., by Sir J. Stewart Eichardson, Barfc. ), I found the same kind 

 of " Eed Spiders " in great numbers, some bright red and active, and 

 others congregated in the axils of the veins of the leaves close to the 

 origin of the leaf from the leafstalk. This appeared to be a favourite 

 position, and these little parties of Mites were mostly of a darker, or 

 partially of a darker, tint, being in some cases vermilion along the 

 centre of the back of the abdomen, and dark towards the sides (see 

 magnified figure, p. 82). This figure also shows the full number, that 

 is to say, eight legs of the adult Mite ; when hatched it has only six.* 

 The web, which is so noticeable under a fair magnifying power in the 

 case of the Hop Ked Spider, was very little observable in the early 

 stages of infestation, even where I made special examination with a 

 quarter-inch power ; I think I made out that there was a little, but I 

 could not feel certain. 



The following are some of the reports of observation sent in the 

 past season. On the 15th of March, Mr. F. Nixon, writing from Great 

 Eversden, near Cambridge, remarked, "It might interest you to know 

 that at this early stage the Gooseberry bushes in this neighbourhood 

 are already covered with 'Ked Spider'"; . . . "all have it more or 

 less." 



On the 23rd of May, Mr. Nixon, who had been frequently communi- 

 cating on the subject of the Gooseberry Ked Spider presence since his 

 first observation of March 15th, wrote that he had seen hundreds of 

 acres looking rained by this troublesome pest, and remarked : — " I 

 have been into every fruit-growing district in Cambridgeshire, and 

 everywhere it is the same. Not a single plantation have I found 

 entirely free from it, whilst the ravages in most have been terrible." 



Reverting to order of date of appearance : on the 27th of March, 

 Mr. Chas. Whitaker, of Caldewell, Pershore, Worcestershire, applied 

 for information as to remedy for Ked Spider on Gooseberry bushes. 



On the 27th of April, Prof. Harker, of the Eoyal Agricultural 

 College, Cirencester, wrote me from Oakley Villas, Cirencester, as 

 follows : — "I dare say this long dry season has put you on the alert for 



* In the paper by Prof. Eiley, previously quoted at p. 33, will be found first- 

 rate and very highly magnified figures of Bryobia pratensis in adult, and also in 

 young condition, which may be serviceably consulted for differences of structure at 

 different ages. In the case of this "Clover Eed Spider" it is noted (pp. 47, &c.) 

 that the eggs are blood-red, and have been found in great numbers during winter on 

 the bark, or under loose bark, of various trees, together with some amount of 

 hybernating Mites. 



