REPORT ON BLACK CURRANTS. 



203 



variety being alike attacked, the whole of the collection was dug 

 up in 1896, and the ground trenched two feet deep and well 

 manured. A young piece with roots attached was broken from 

 the old bushes, and planted on the same ground formerly occu- 

 pied by the Black Currants. All infested buds were carefully 

 picked off immediately they were observed to be swelling to an 

 abnormal size. The following spring, 1897, the little bushes 

 were gone over again early, and all infested buds again removed 

 and burnt, as had been done the previous year. The result of 

 planting again in the deeply worked soil and persistently re- 

 moving infested buds has been that only a few buds appeared 

 containing the mite in the early part of 1898. The bushes have 

 made splendid growth, and produced an excellent crop of fruit 

 this year. The following are some of the varieties treated as 

 above : — 



1. Baldwin's Black. — Leaves as broad as they are long ; lobes 

 pointed and sharply serrated ; berries large, sweet, and produced 

 in long clusters. A good, sturdy grower and heavy cropper. 



2. Black Naples. — Leaves longer than they are broad ; lobes 

 sharply pointed and much serrated ; berries of medium size, a 

 little acid in flavour. Clusters of fair size. A moderate grower 

 and free cropper. 



3. Carter's Champion.— Leaves longer than they are broad ; 

 lobes very pointed ; berries very large, of good flavour, and borne 

 in long clusters. A strong grower and great cropper. A variety 

 called Black Champion, shown by Mr. Dunnett, received F.C.C. 

 in 1881, and is believed to be identical with this. 



4. Downley Hall Prolific. — Same as No. 8. 



5. James' Prolific. — Leaves longer than they are broad ; lobes 

 very pointed and moderately serrated ; berries of medium size 

 and fair flavour. Clusters rather short. A good grower but 

 light cropper when compared with other varieties. 



6. Lee's Prolific (F.C.C. 1869).— Leaves as broad as they are 

 long ; lobes very pointed, sharply serrated ; berries above medium 

 size, very sweet, and produced in good clusters. A great bearer 

 and moderate grower. 



7. Golden-leaved. — This is of no value for cropping, but it 

 makes a striking and beautiful bush in the early summer ; later 

 on the rich golden foliage changes to almost green. 



8. Old Black. — Leaves as broad as they are long ; lobes pointed 



