90 
CURRANT. 
Currant Gall Mite. Phytoptus ribis, Westwood. 
Phytoptus (? species).* 
Black Currant shoots with infested buds. Gall Mite enormously magnified, 
nat. size invisible to naked eye. 
During the past season (as in previous years) notes have been sent 
of the mischief caused to Black Currant Growers by the attack of the 
small Gall Mite, of similar nature to that figured above, which injures 
the Black Currants by causing a swollen and diseased, or totally 
abortive, condition of the buds. 
This Phytoptus , or “ Gall Mite,” multiplies from eggs and increases 
enormously, and is very infectious, as the Mites can crawl over any 
part of the bush, or harbour in the rough bark and down at ground 
level, or may crawl over the ground, or may be carried on leaves by 
the wind to neighbouring bushes. They are so excessively small that 
they cannot be individually distinguished by the naked eye, but with a 
strong magnifier may be found in great numbers in the infested and 
distorted buds. 
The best way to stop attack where it is still slight is to prune off 
all galled shoots,—that is, those with swollen buds,—and to burn 
them; also an application of lime and sulphur syringed on the 
infested bushes has been found of use. 
The easiest way to prepare this is to take four ounces of sulphuret 
of lime and two ounces of soft soap to every gallon of water. The 
sulphuret and soap should be well mixed together, and the water 
poured on at boiling heat, the ingredients being stirred to make them all 
mix well together. This mixture may be used (when cool) at any 
thickness preferred, either for syringing or to run thickly down and 
* The above figure is of the Birch Phytoptus , and shows the general appearance 
of the Phytopti. I am not aware that distinctions between the form of the Phytopti 
infesting Birch and Currant have been observed. 
