GALL MITE. 
77 
siftings of small seeds and rubbish thrown down by the threshing- 
machines from infested corn, but also the coarse screenings out of 
bodies larger than the corn itself are greatly to be mistrusted. 
Amongst these I have found the most various things, as short pieces 
of straw that might or might not have maggots within, knots of maggot- 
web, ergot, &c., showing that the worst field-attacks may thus be 
propagated from the insects developing from this source. 
It may certainly be laid down that, wherever these cheap foul 
screenings are allowed to be used, the holder must not be surprised if 
grave disaster should follow in the train. 
BLACK CURRANT. 
Gall Mite. Phytoptus ribis, Westwood. 
Phytoptus (? species.) 
Black Currant shoots with infested buds. Gall Mite.* 
The Black Currant Mite has been reported as seriously troublesome 
to growers at various localities. With the increase of fruit farming 
the attacks of this Phytoptus or Gall Mite have either much increased 
or the observation of them has much increased during the last few 
years, so as to have become in some localities—as for instance in 
Clydesdale, as mentioned—a very troublesome evil. 
In my Ninth Report I gave a description of the kinds of Acarus or 
Gall Mite, of the sub-family of Phytoptus which causes this Black 
Currant attack; therefore it is only necessary to mention that it is 
* The figure given is of the Birch Phytoptus, and shows the general appearance 
of the Phytopti. I am not aware that distinctions in form between the two kinds 
have been noticed. 
