92 PHYTOPTID^. 



This information appears to me very valuable, as it has been well 

 tested ; is in agreement with what we have from the highest U. S. A. 

 and Canadian advisers, though not in such detail; and also on a lesser 

 scale we have proved its usefulness here. It would appear to be well 

 worth attention of all Pear-growers troubled by the Pear Leaf-blister 

 Mite. 



Black Cureant-bud Gall Mite, Phytoptus ribis, Westwood and 

 Nalepa. — This Black Currant infestation, only too well known to 

 Currant growers all over the country, continues to exist, or even to be 

 increasingly troublesome, and I mention it together with the Pear Mite 

 under the heading of Phytoptidm, as the nature and habits of these two 

 species of Phytopti, or Gall Mites, are in many respects so much alike 

 that possibly the treatment mentioned above as an almost certain 

 method of eradicating the Pear Mite whilst sheltering in the Pear- 

 buds during winter, might in all probability be equally applicable for 

 destruction of the Black Currant Mites when also in winter-quarters 

 in the buds ; at least it would be well worth trying. 



During the past year, communications regarding this destructive 

 pest were sent at intervals beginning in February up to the 2Gth of 

 December, but very little advance, if any, was made in method of 

 treatment, excepting a note from Mr. John Speir, of Newton Farm, 

 Glasgow, whose ol servationa are always valuable, to the effect that 

 "the Currant-bushes treated for Mite in 1891 and 1893 still keep 

 quite free." The details of the treatment were given at pp. 91 and 92 

 ofmy'Eeport on Injurious Insects for 1893.' Put shortly, it con- 

 sisted in cutting back the stems of the bushes which were very badly 

 attacked to within two or three inches of the ground (the branches 

 being carefully gathered together and burned). A mixture of soft-soap 

 dissolved in hot water, to which paraffin oil was added, and stirred so 

 as to make it combine, was diluted to a safe strength with cold water, 

 and syringed on to the stumps of the old bushes, and on the ground 

 about, and on the neighbouring bushes. The bushes pushed up new 

 shoots, and at the date 29th September, 1893, Mr. Speir reported that 

 during the spring no affected buds were noticed, either on the bushes 

 that were cut back or on the others surrounding them, and during the 

 year the bushes appeared in a very favourable way of making good 

 growth and healthy wood in the future. This good promise has (as 

 shown by Mr. Speir's short note given above) been kept up during the 

 past year, and as in this case, besides what was done to the cut-down 

 bushes, " the bushes round the affected ones were syringed with the 

 soft-soap and paraffin mixture," this point appears well worthy of 

 attention as an instance of success in treating the bushes at the fall 

 of the year, almost precisely as recommended (also at the fall of the 

 year) in the case of the Pear Leaf-blister Mite. 



