September 28, 1893, ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
291 
essential for a satisfactory examination of specimens. The three sprays 
were packed in damp clean moss in a stout cardboard box ; growth 
sturdy, leaves deep green, glossy, thick, leathery, and without speck or 
blemish. The buds crowning the three sprays, one to each, appeared 
small (for the time of year), but normal, and had apparently nothing 
the matter with them. “These buds were taken early, and have 
remained in nearly the same state for about six weeks,” stated 
“ G. B. A.,” also that they were taken from a plant of Wm. Holmes. 
Denuding a spray of its leaves it had the appearance shown at A 
(fig. 41), natural size. The side buds (a) had been taken off six weeks 
ago, leaving the crown bud (5) only. This bud was slightly tinged at 
the apex (c) with brown. Removing the bud scales, the inner portion 
to upset its equanimity. It will be noticed that there are no “ buds ”■ 
(or eggs, as they are sometimes called), nor were any discovered in the 
other parts of the dissected Chrysanthemum bud ; in fact, gemmation 
had ceased, evidently some time ago, and only a few “ bud ” sacs were 
found. But in the older and unbrowsed erineum and suspended in it I 
found what I take to be the transformation stage of the four-legged 
(larva) mite into the six-legged. This is shown at G, and the empty 
case from which the six-legged mite emerges is represented at H. The 
six-legged mite itself was not found, but to assist others to recognise it 
it is shown at I. It is the female form—a most active and interesting 
creature. 
The mite is not by any means uncommon, though hitherto unnamed 
or embryonic flower was the size shown in vertical section at B, and in 
transverse section in C. Nothing was manifestly wrong with the bud 
as observable by the naked eye. Subjecting the section B to an ordinary 
pocket magnifier it had the appearance represented in D. Still no trace 
of any parasite was to be found, but the brownness at the apex pourtrayed 
in black («Z) was seen to extend down the flower bud and to the base of 
the embryonic petals (e). Taking this portion only of the section and 
subjecting it to a lens of moderate magnifying power it appeared as 
shown in E ; petals with hairs or erineum ; g, mite ; A, “ bud eye ; ” 
i i, cases from which the parthenogenetic mites emerge. Cutting a 
microscopic section—that is, a thin slice with the aid of a lens, and 
placing it on a glass slide and examining it with a powerful lens, two 
mites were seen as shown in F at j j. They are full grown—the last 
of the parthenogenetic series, nearly l-200th of an inch in length and 
about l-900th of an inch in breadth at the widest part. The full scope of 
the microscope on the section is given to show that there is no 
erineum on the right hand side, where the mite is full fed, 
torpid, and beginning to thicken, but that on the left hand side was 
active amongst the erineum, moving about as if nothing had occurred 
and undescribed. I propose, therefore, to name it Phytoptus chrys- 
anthemi, the Chrysanthemum bud mite. It is unquestionably a native 
species, found in the buds of Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum or Leucan- 
themum maximum, the whole of the flower buds of this plant often being 
what is termed “ deaf.” In some gardens the plants flower profusely, in 
others only few flowers are produced, though the plants are perfectly 
healthy and strong growing. Some of the flowers are deformed, perhaps* 
the florets only develop on one side, because the mites destroy the 
buds. 
It also proves disastrous sometimes to Centaurea montana buds, they 
also being occasionally flowerless; but it is chiefly confined to the 
Chrysanthemum family—in fact, it is doubtful if the species are iden¬ 
tical. But there is no question about the Chrysanthemum mite of our 
gardens and fields attacking the buds of Chrysanthemums. It generally 
fastens on the crown buds, the female pushing her ovipositor into the 
bud from the apex and right down to what would be the eye of tho 
flower, and there deposits her eggs. They are imbedded in the living sub¬ 
stance, and erineum is produced on what would be the petals of the flower. 
These eggs hatch out in a few days ; but the mites are enclosed, and in 
