1910.] Wart Disease of Potatoes in Great Britain. 923 



100 degrees Fahr. Fumigation with sulphur is recommended 

 as the best remedy, but persistent treatment is necessary to 

 get rid of the pest entirely, (See also Journal, Mar. 1909, 

 P- 925). 



An Uncommon Insect. — A correspondent from Southsea 

 forwarded an insect, which was identified as Pachylomma 

 buccata Bres, one of the Braconidce, a family of insects 

 related to the Ichneumons, in the order Hymenoptera. This 

 Braconid is rarely met with in this country, though found 

 in numbers elsewhere. It is believed to be parasitic upon ants. 



The Hay Mite. — Another pest, more commonly associated 

 with indoor life, and to be found occasionally on cheeses, 

 namely the mite Tyroglyphus longior, was reported from the 

 neighbourhood of Great Yarmouth. In this instance, it was 

 found "in millions " round a hayrick. In its young stage the 

 mite is furnished with six legs only, but in the adult 

 stage it has the eight legs characteristic of mites. These 

 creatures feed on dry vegetable or animal material, but they 

 are of small economic importance, since they do not injure 

 the hay and do no harm to the stock that feed on it. The 

 most that has been complained of is that the beasts may cough 

 a little owing to the tickling sensation caused by the crowds 

 of mites. Haymakers and others, may, however, be irritated. 

 The mites can be killed by pouring hot water over the heaps 

 round the hayricks. (See also Journal, Dec. 1908, p. 688.) 



During the autumn of 1909 the Board were engaged on 

 an enquiry into the distribution of wart disease of potatoes 

 in Great Britain. Five Inspectors were 

 Distribution of instructed to visit suspected districts, 



others reporting the presence of wart disease (black scab) 



From an examination of all the available information it 

 would appear that wart disease is almost entirely confined to 

 an area including Lancashire (south of the Ribble), Cheshire, 

 Shropshire (north of Shrewsbury), Staffordshire, and those 

 parishes in Warwickshire and Worcestershire which imme- 

 diately adjoin Birmingham. Within this area most parishes 

 contain one or more allotments or gardens in which diseased 



Wart Disease 

 of Potatoes in 

 Great Britain. 



and to urge potato growers to report 

 cases of disease. A large number of 

 letters were received from occupiers and 



