1907.] 



The Black Currant 



Gall-Mite. 



595 



cuttings exhibited very few, and only slightly, abnormal buds 

 in the autumn, while in 1903 they seemed entirely free. Un- 

 fortunately this species of ladybird does not seem particularly 

 fond of the black currant, but in my own mind I have little 

 doubt but that a species could be found which, if bred in 

 sufficient numbers, would materially lessen and keep in check 

 this disease, and possibly might exterminate it. 



(iv) Miscellaneous. — Amongst other remedial measures which 

 have been suggested and tried may be mentioned hand picking 

 infested buds. Experiments carried out at Woburn* have 

 clearly demonstrated the uselessness of this method, for the 

 Report states : — " In 1896 the Baldwins showed signs of being 

 attacked by the mite, and all the bushes were carefully ex- 

 amined and the galls removed. In spite of this, however, the 

 infestation had increased to a marked extent in the following 

 year, and had spread to a certain degree to the Black Naples. 

 The galls were again removed in 1897, but a still further in- 

 crease in the severity of the attack was noticed in 1898. Such 

 observations must throw considerable doubt on the removal of 

 the galls as a remedial measure, though it is frequently advo- 

 cated. It might, it is true, succeed when assiduously followed 

 in a very small plantation, but when attempted on a larger 

 scale it seems to have but little effect. ... As further evidence 

 we may cite the following cases, in which we selected five 

 bushes of Baldwins and counted the number of affected buds 

 on them in January, 1898, 1899, and 1900 respectively, 

 the affected buds having been removed before growth in each 

 year named. The data were as follows : — 





1898. 



1899. 



1900. 

 



Bush No. I 



„ 2 



,3 5, 3 



,5 5, 4 



5 



Total 



13 

 134 



68 

 286 

 432 







26 

 236 

 267 

 620 

 648 



369 

 1.550 

 1,298 

 1,796 

 1,862 



933 



L797 



6,875 



" Thus, in spite of the affected buds having been removed each 

 year, the number of buds affected at the end of the season has 



* Second Report Woburn Experimental Fruit Farm, 1900, pp. 13-20. 



B B B 2 



