86 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
In the same way our collections of other small fruits are so arranged 
that they may be divided into (generally) six similar sections, on each of 
which some different form of manurial treatment is being tried. 
There is one special class of experiment into which, 1 am glad to say, 
we have not at present been compelled to enter to any great extent — 
experiments on diseases and insect-pests. But it is a class of experiment 
which is most instructive in showing the necessity for the combination 
of science and practice. In England such diseases and attacks are, for 
the most part, less serious than they are in other countries— chiefly, I 
believe, owing to the fact that we rarely grow large plantations of the 
same variety or kind of fruit ; it is natural, therefore, that this subject 
should have received much less attention at home than it has abroad. 
But in too many cases we find that the valuable results of our neighbours 
are entirely unknown or ignored, and remedies are suggested which 
savour rather of the quack doctor than of the genuine physician. Take 
for instance the case of canker in apples. How often do we see certain 
chemical manures prescribed as sure remedies for this disease ! Yet it 
has been placed beyond doubt by the careful work of mycologists that 
canker consists of a certain fungus living on the contents of the cells of 
the wood, and nothing is yet known of any remedy which can be 
effectively introduced into the sap so as to kill this fungus. Of course, 
proper nourishment either of a tree or of an animal will render it less 
liable to the attacks of a parasite, whether fungus or insect, and more 
able to resist such attacks, and in this indirect way a manure, if it happens 
to supply a deficiency in the soil, may do good ; but it can be no more 
regarded as a true cure for the disease than could a special diet be 
regarded as a cure for small-pox or any other contagious disease in man. 
Haphazard remedies may, of course, sometimes hit the mark, but the 
only sound method of combatting these pests is to start by studying the 
parasite itself, and finding out its life-history, and when and by what it 
may be best attacked. Unfortunately we have no one at present con- 
nected with our farm who can claim any special knowledge in such 
matters, and when need arises we have to go elsewhere for assistance. 
But there is no difficulty in procuring this. The only infestation which 
we have had occasion to study is one which must be looked upon with 
considerable apprehension in England, for it appears to be spreading at 
an alarming rate in many cases — the black-currant mite. In this case 
we have carried out a numerous series of experiments with various 
insecticides of different strengths, and another series is now in progress — 
twigs from the bushes under experiment being sent at intervals to an 
authority on the subject, who reports to us as to their condition. So far, 
T may mention, every means which we have tried for combatting this 
pest has failed. 
Since the initiation of our farm in 1894 we have only published one 
report on our work there, a report which was necessarily of a descriptive 
and introductory character. We hope very soon to have sufficient 
materials for a second report, but from what I have already said it will 
be evident that work of this sort requires much time, and that our con- 
clusions, if they are to be valid, must not be drawn hastily. We shall 
only be saying what every practical man has found out for himself when 
