1907.] 



The Black Currant Gall-Mite. 



585 



thick layer of salt on the top. A piece of parchment paper 

 •should be tied tightly over the crock, which must be stored in a 

 cool dry place. Butter so treated will keep for several months. 

 On removal it should be soaked for some time in water of about 

 •65 deg. Fahr., re-worked and then made up. 



Judging Butter. — A scale of points useful forjudging butter 

 is as follows : — Flavour, 40 ; aroma, ro ; texture, 20 ; evenness 

 -of salting and freedom from moisture, 1 5 ; colour, 5 ; neatness 

 •of make-up and finish, 10. — Total, 100. 



Theodore R. Robinson. 

 C. W. Walker-Tisdale. 



THE BLACK CURRANT GALL-MITE. 

 {Eriophycs ribis, Nalepa.) 



Of the many pests which levy toll upon fruit trees in this 

 ■country, few, if any, have caused more damage and loss than 

 the black currant gall-mite. Certainly none have so baffled 

 the efforts of fruit growers and others to eradicate it. 



Towards the close of the last century it was increasing and 

 infesting new bushes in the Midlands to an alarming extent, so 

 that it was quite the exception to find bushes free from the 

 •disease known as " big-bud/' and many growers were giving up 

 the cultivation of black currants. 



So serious had the matter become towards the close of 1898 

 that I was appealed to by numerous growers to endeavour to 

 provide some effective means of stamping out what they de- 

 scribed as the " worst fruit pest in the country." 



As a result I commenced early in 1899 a series of experi- 

 ments which have now extended to the end of 1906, and have 

 resulted in a practical and effective cure which can be easily 

 applied at a relatively small cost. It has been represented 

 to me that some account of the various experiments and the 

 work done would prove of interest and value to growers ; and 



