May  7.  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
40U 
can  produce  no  leaves  or  fruit.  In  some  few  cases  stunted  leaves 
may  be  put  forth,  which  fall  off  in  the  early  summer,  but  no 
blossoms  or  fruit  are  formed  from  such  infested  buds. 
It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  the  old-fashioned  and  original 
Fig.  1. — Bud  Mite,  greatly  enlarged.  Fig.  2.— .4  Normal  Cuir.int  Twig. 
Fig.  8. —Currant  Twig  with  Infested  Buds.  F.g.  f.— Eggs  of 
Mite,  greatly  enlarged. 
variety  of  Black  Currant  is  comparatively  free  from  this  attack, 
but  thi.sis  a  bad  cropping  variety,  and  has  generally  been  replaced 
by  more  prolific  kinds. 
Phytoptus  ribis  is  indistinguishable  with  the  naked  eye,  but  it 
can  be  seen  with  a  pocket  lens.  It  has  four  short  legs,  of  nearly 
equal  length.  At  the  extremity  of  each  of  the  legs  is  a  very  fine 
feathered  bristle  and  a  single  claw,  and  a  couple  of  simple  bristles. 
The  snout  is  short.  The  body  is .  cylindrical.  x\t  the  tail  end 
there  is  a  pair  of  long  bri.stles,  and  on  the  back  of  the  body  three 
large  pairs  and  two  small  pairs.  These  appear  to  help  locomotion, 
or  to  steady  the  mite  in  its  movements,  wdiich  are  very  slow. 
Eggs  are  found  in  the  buds  nearly  all  the  year  round.  Frost  has 
apparently  no  effect  upon  the  mites. 
When  Black  Currant  bushes  are  jplanted  they  should  be  carefully 
examined  for  any  indication  of  infestation.  This  is  plainly  demon- 
.strated  by  the  unnaturally  swollen  buds.  If  these  are  found  the 
bushes  should  be  rejected.  And  in  taking  cuttings  in  the  autumn 
those  from  infested  bushes  should  by  no  means  be  planted.  Though 
there  may  be  no  sw’ollen  buds,  the  mites  may  be  in  the  buds  or 
upon  the  cuttings  in  the  folds  of  the  rind.  * 
Infested  bushes  should  be  pruned  very  hard,  and  every  particle 
of  the  cuttings  carried  away  and  buried  at  once.  The  bushes  on  ten 
acres  on  a  Kentish  fruit  farm  were  very  badly  infested  in  1893,  so 
that  it  Avas  almost  decided  to  grub  them  up.  They  were,  how- 
eA’er,  left  and  pruned  very  hard  in  1893  and  1894.  In  the  spring 
of  1895  there  Avas  plenty  of  Avood  and  but  very  feAV  SAVolIen  buds, 
and  a  good  crop  of  fruit  was  groAvn.  After  hard  pruning  the 
bushes  should  be  looked  over,  and  any  abnormally  .sAA'ollen  buds 
upon  them  picked  off  and  burned.  In  small  plantations  and 
gardens  hand-picking  might  take  the  place  of  severe  pruning, 
but  in  large  plantations  it  Avould  be  too  expensive. 
Little  good  can  be  done  in  regard  to  remedies.  The  fumiga¬ 
tion  wdth  hydrocyanic  acid  has  not  met  Avith  the  success  Avhich  at 
one  time  Avas  thought  likely.  Further  experiment.s  may,  hoAv- 
eA*er,  shoAV  it  to  be  useful  as  regards  the  cleansing  of  young  plants. 
Dipping  the  plants  in  hot  Avater  has  also  been  tried  experimentally 
Avith  some  success,  but  not  enough  is  yet  knoAvn  to  recommend  the 
treatment.  The  best  plan  for  growers  to  adopt  is  to  cultivate 
from  clean  stock  only. — (From  the  “Kent  Messenger.”) 
Obituary. 
Mr.  Charles  Darrah. 
It  is  Avith  much  regret  that  aa'G  haA^e  to  announce  the  death 
of  Mr.  Charles  Darrah,  of  Holly  Point,  Heaton  Mersey,  Man¬ 
chester,  on  April  22.  Mr.  Darrah  Avas  knoAvn  to  the  horti¬ 
cultural  Avorld  as  the  possessor  of  a  large  collection  of  Cacti,  in 
AA-hich  he  Avas  greatly  interested.  “  Notes  on  Cacti,”  by  Mr. 
A.  Cobbold,  aaTo  has  charge  of  the  Holly  Point  collection,  are 
noAv  appearing  in  our  pages. 
Mr.  Thomas  Weaver. 
A  fine  type  of  an  old  English  gardener  passed  aAA-ay  on  Thurs¬ 
day  last  in  the  person  of  the  late  Mr.  Thomas  AVeaver,  head 
gardener  and  estate  bailiff  at  Christleton  Hall,  near  Chester. 
Mr.  Weaver  commenced  his  professional  career  in  a  local  seed 
establishment,  from  Avhere,  in  his  early  days,  he  migrated  to  North 
Wales.  In  the  Principality  he  held  several  appointments  in  the 
gardening  profos.sion,  but  only  to  return  to  his  native  parish  when 
he  entered  the  service  of  the  old  Cheshire  family  of  ToAvnsend 
Ince,  of  Christleton  Hall,  whom  he  served  loyally  and  faithfully 
for  the  long  period  of  thirty-four  years.  An  excellent  all  round 
gardener,  he  very  frequently  figured  in  the  prize  lists  of  local 
and  other  shoAA’s,  and  he  Avas  looked  upon  as  an  expert  judge  of 
hardy  fruits  and  vegetables. 
During  his  sojourn  in  Wales  he  cultivated  a  love  for  hardy 
British  Ferns,  a  collection  of  Avhich  he  formed,  and  AVhich  was 
then  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  largest  in  the  North  of  England. 
Mr.  Weaver  Avas  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  Chester  Paxton 
Society,  and  the  present  successful  state  of  this  society  is  largely 
due  to  his  initiative  and  also  to  his  loyal  and  enthusiastic  .support. 
Here  he  filled  for  three  years,  with  much  acceptance,  the  office  of 
president,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  enjoyed  the  distinc¬ 
tion  of  being  an  honorary  member.  In  parish  matters  he  proved 
to  be  a  useful  member,  having  filled  the  office  of  rectoFs  AA'arden 
for  a  term  of  years,  in  addition  to  being  one  of  the  leading  spirit.^ 
in  the  Aullage  horticultural  society. 
Although  of  a  quiet  and  retiring  disposition,  he  nevertheless 
^Tjoyed  the  friendship  of  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances,  Avho 
looked  upon  him  not  only  as  a  skilful  gardener,  but  as  a  man  of 
high  integrity  and  honourable  purpose.  At  the  funeral,  Avhich 
took  place  on  Saturday,  his  remains  Avere  folloAved  by  a  large 
number  of  those  Avho  held  him  in  high  esteem,  including  the  agent 
of  Christleton  Hall  Estate  (Mr.  R.  L.  Barker),  the  chairman  of 
the  Paxton  Society  (Mr.  N.  F.  Barnes),  the  hon.  secretary  of  the 
Paxton  Society  (Mr.  G.  P.  Miln),  and  the  folloAving  ex-president.s 
and  members  of  committee — Me.ssrs.  John  Wynne,  Robert  Wake¬ 
field,  E.  Stubbs,  John  Dutton,  and  A.  W.  Arimstrong.  The 
tenants  and  serAmnts  of  the  estate  W’ere  also  Avell  represented ; 
and  the  rector  of  the  parish  (Rev.  L.  Garnett),  Avho  is  also  Avell 
knoAvn  as  an  enthusiastic  horticulturist,  conducted  a  simple  but 
beautiful  service  in  the  church  and  at  the  graveside. — George 
Paxton. 
Societies. 
Royal  Horticultural,  Drill  Hall,  May  5tli. 
The  meeting  of  Tuesday  last  was  bright  and  varied.  Hardy 
plant  groups  AAere  numerous,  and  Anemones,  Narcissi,  and 
Tulips  Avere  plentiful.  Orchids  w’ere  in  larger  quantity  than  on 
one  or  tAvo  preAuous  occasions. 
Amongst  the  novelties  there  Avas  a  Tea  Rambler  Rose  of 
merit,  and  A^eitch’s  noAV  hybrid  Kalanchoe  (K.  Felthamensis) 
secured  unstinted  praise.  Mr.  Pitt  had  a  grand  form  of 
Odontoglossum  cirrhosum.  The  Narcissus  and  Tulip  Committee 
made  seven  aAvards. 
Orchid  Committee. 
Mr.  de  Barri  CraAvshay  (grower,  Mr.  AA^.  J.  Stable.s), 
staged  an  exceptionally  fine  piece  of  Odontoglossum  triumphans 
A’ar.  Lionel  CraAvshay,  Avith  eleven  immensely  strong  flowers. 
This  variety,  of  course,  Avas  awarded  a  Sih'er-gilt  Medal  two 
years  ago,  and  was  sent  up  for  a  Gold  Medal.  It  again  secured 
the  Silver-gilt  Medal. 
Messrs.  CharlesAvorth  and  Co.,  of  Bradfoi’d,  Yorks,  contri¬ 
buted  Lselio-Cattleya  G.  S.  Ball,  L.-c.  Doris,  L.-c.  Adolphus, 
and  other  subjects.  From  Sir  Frederick  Wigan,  Bart., 
(groAver,  Mr.  AV.  H.  Young),  Clare  Lawn,  East  Sheen,  came  a 
AAell  balanced  group  of  the  finest  plants,  full  of  flower.  Trico- 
pilia  suaAUS,  L.-ci.  Highburyemsis,  Oypripedium  niveum,  C. 
bellatulum,  C.  b.  album,  C.  concolor,  and  C.  Godfroyse  Avere  all 
shoAvn.  Lselia  purpurata  var.  Ethel  Grey,  A\ith  five  huge  and 
beautiful  blooms,  Avas  also  staged. 
Messrs.  James  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea,  staged 
Cypripedium  x  Olga,  a  quaintly  beautiful  hybrid ;  Epi-Cattleya 
radiato-Bowringiana,  coloured  dark  violet  purple,  a  peculiar 
shade;  and  the  folloAving  shoAA-y  subjects:  Cattleya  x  Empre&s 
Frederick  var.  Leonatse,  a  noble  and  lovely  flower ;  C.  Mendeli, 
C.  Mossise,  C.  intermedia  alba,  Masdevallia  ignea,  Lselia  x 
Latona,  Oncidium  Marshallianum,  and  Cattleya  Schroderae. 
H.  T.  Pitt  Esq.,  of  Stamford  Hill,  N.,  arranged  a  group  of 
varieties  of  much  interest,  the  selection  being  fairly  representa¬ 
tive.  His  plants  AA’ere  well  flowered.  Cattleya  citrina,  C. 
Schilleriana  Pitt’s  variety,  the  finest  form  of  it  aa'C  have  seen  ; 
Odontoglossum  cirrhosum  Pitt’s  var.,  c^uite  a  distinct  thing; 
also  Cypripedium  bellatulum,  and  Odonteglossum  polyanthum. 
CaiDtain  G.  L.  Holford,  C.I.E.,  AVestonbii’t,  Tetbury  'orroAA’er, 
Mr.  Alexander).  Avas  grandly  represented  with  a  floriferous  group 
of  Odontoglossum  crispum,  Vandas,  and  Lselia-s.  Some  of  the 
Odontos.  bore  racemes  of  twenty  floAvers  and  more.  L.-c. 
Hyeana  splendens  bore  four  large  floAvers  on  one  lead ;  L.-c. 
G.'  S.  Ball  had  five  blooms,  and  Cattleya  Mendeli  Duchess  of 
York  had  tAVO  splendid  floAvers  of  great  beauty. 
