38 
with the addition of their practical observations of life history, and 
means of prevention and remedy, added to what we find recorded, we 
make serviceable advance. | 
It would be very advantageous if we had more such committees, for 
the work is so very real. No make-believe or fanciful remedies gain — 
the stated formal approval of a body of experienced fruit-growers 
whose returns depend on the treatment of their crops. 
This year we have been working up for one thing, the Raspberry Bee- 
tle, Byturus tomentosus, Fab., which Mr. C. D. Wise finds at the Tod- 
dington fruit grounds, may be best got rid of by shaking down into 
bags moistened or sprinkled with paraffin. | 
The Raspberry Bud Caterpillar of the Lampronia rubiella, Bjerk., has 
also been greatly troubling raspberry growers by its injury to the 
young buds and sometimes in the canes. We hope by gathering the 
infested buds or neighboring bunches of leaves in which the larva has 
pupated, and destroying these, to have forestalled much recurrence of 
next year’s attack. 
Plum Sawfly has also made a slight, and Apple Saw-fly a very de- 
cidediy injurious appearance. I conjecture that the similarity (to 
general inspection) of the attack of the latter to’that of the Codling Moth 
Caterpillar has caused it not te be generally noticed before, and I hope 
to be able to add some notes on the changes in appearance of the larve. 
In all respects of habits and appearance preceding pupation this Saw- 
_ fly larva agrees with such descriptions as I have access to of that of the 
Tenthredo testudinea Klug (= Hoplocampa testudinea Klug), but pre- 
viously I find that instead of the head being tawny or pale chestnut, 
and little trace of color above the caudal extremity, that the head is 
pitchy black, and there is also a pitchy black plate above the tail pre- 
ceded by a cross band and a few small markings also pitehy or black. 
We have traced this change by the observer (Mr. Wm. Coleman, of 
Cranfield, Beds.) watching specimens for me in natural conditions 
through their transformations. I think thatif this change has not been 
noted it will be of serviceable interest to record it, as on first glance the 
variously marked larve appear to be of different species. 
For prevention of recurrence of this attack I am suggesting ietitly 
_ shaking infested trees over cloths sprinkled with some mineral oil, so 
that the caterpillars which are very fairly active should not escape. Plum 
Sawfly has been only reported from one locality. 
The bud-galls on Black Currant caused by the Phytoptus ribis or 
Black Currant Gall Mite have been present to a seriously destructive 
extent. We know of no remedy for this attack excepting use of soft 
soap and sulphur wash, or, as a preventive of spread, breaking off the 
bud-galls. We, however, have found this year that parasites are at 
work in the persons of Chalecids, which we have not yet identified spe- 
cifically, and from some small amount of further observation I venture 
