286 
JOUKNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
THE CUERANT BUD-MITE, OR CURRANT GALL-MITE. 
{Phytoptus ribis, Westwood.) 
By Mr. Robert Newstead, F.E.S., Hon. Mem. R.H.S., Curator 
Grosvenor Museum, Chester. 
Of the numerous pests which infest fruit trees in this country, it may be 
safely said this is one of the most destructive. And although a good deal 
of time and labour has been devoted to experimenting upon the disease * 
with a view to finding out a remedy, nothing, so far as I am aware, has 
yet given satisfactory results, as we shall find when we come to consider 
the various treatments which have been adopted. 
The earliest record of Phytoiotus infestation was made at a meeting 
of the Scientific Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society held 
March 2, 1869 
Specimens of a disease in shoots of Black Currant from the Rev. A. Fitch were 
then produced, Mr. Berkeley remarking that the outer bracts were hypertrophied, and, 
in consequence, the delicate divisions of the inner part of the bud were badly nourished, 
and death ultimately ensued. The chairman pointed out its probable analogy with 
the galls in hazel produced by a Cecidomyia, which was confirmed by Professor 
Westwood, who stated that the disease in the Black Currant shoots was produced by 
an extremely minute four-legged Acarus. — R.H.S. Journal, New Series, vol. ii., 1870, 
p. ciii. 
This, I believe, was the first authentic public announcement of the exist- 
ence of the disease, although it had been previously known to growers of 
Black Currants as causing serious harm to their fruit for many years past, 
and especially so in the neighbourhood of Blantyre, N.B. Since that 
time much has been written in various Horticultural Journals and other 
periodicals concerning this pest. In 1885 Miss Ormerod, V.M.H., called 
attention to it in her Annual Report for that year, and also in nine other 
of her Reports, subsequently issued, will be found much valuable informa- 
tion concerning the disease and its treatment, besides a great amount of 
evidence from practical sources in various parts of the country ; each suc- 
cessive Report bringing the history and treatment of the disease up to 
date. My own share in the investigation of the pest was published t in 
the British Naturalist for June, 1894, which was the result of a series of 
observations made on a plot of infested bushes during the previous year. 
Since the publication of the above I have continuously made extensive 
examinations of infested plants, thereby confirming former observations and 
adding thereto many interesting facts. Besides which, I have also con- 
ducted observations in the field, and have personally visited his Grace 
the Duke of Bedford's fruit farm, and also inspected plants under treat- 
ment in Miss Ormerod's garden at St. Albans during the years 1899-1900. 
* The word " disease " is used throughout the paper as being more convenient, 
but it will of course be remembered that it is a pest which is being considered. The 
term is, however, just as applicable in this case as in "mange" or other so-called 
" skin diseases " in animals, caused by allied species of Acari. 
f Recent Investigations on the Currant Bud-Mite. R. Newstead. London : E. W. 
Allen, 4 Ave Maria Lane. 
