The Bulletin. 29 



pile in the center of the area, add some dry leaves or straw, and 

 burn. This may seem like a heroic treatment and it certainly does 

 not save the infested plants, but in adopting this treatment the object 

 will be to prevent the further spread of the Red Spider and thus save 

 the rest of the crop. 



Supposing, however, that the Red Spider has made its appearance 

 and is doing injury, but that the grower does not wish to adopt the 

 method of destroying the infested plants. Then he has recourse to 

 either dusting the plants with dry powdered sulphur with a bellows 

 (arranged or worked so that the application shall reach the under side 

 of the leaves), or he may give a spraying treatment with some 

 solution that will kill the mite- by coming into contact with them. 



In dusting the plants with a bellows or powder gun, ordinarily 

 powdered sulphur may be used alone, or mixed with an equal amount 

 of flour or sifted road dust. The application must be carefully 

 made so as to reach the under side of the leaves, where the creatures 

 are most plentiful. 



If the grower decides to adopt a liquid treatment the material 

 which will likely give best results is a solution of lime and sulphur, 

 which can be prepared as follows, to make 100 gallons of the solution : 

 Five pounds of fresh stone lime (unslaked) is put in a tub, keg, bar- 

 rel, or iron kettle (not copper). Add a little water to start slaking 

 and add more to keep it going. As it slakes add five pounds of sul- 

 phur, and the heat and boiling of the slaking will cause much of the 

 lime and sulphur to unite. Keep the mixture stirring as it slakes 

 and boils. When it has finished slaking, add water to make 100 

 gallons, and it is ready to apply. If desired, this mixture may be 

 made up in smaller quantity than 100 gallons, but it should always 

 be prepared in these proportions.' One pound of lime and one pound 

 of sulphur may be used to make up 20 gallons of the solution. 



Ordinary laundry soap dissolved in hot water and diluted to make 

 iy 2 pounds soap to 4 gallons of water has been used by us with good 

 effect against plant lice without injury to the plants, but whether 

 this would be effective against Red Spider w T e do not know. It is 

 worthy of trial. 



It is doubtful whether the spraying and dusting treatments will 

 always prove satisfactory. The cultural methods of prevention and 

 the destruction of stalks to prevent spread of the trouble while it is 

 yet confined to small areas, is more promising. This pest, like several 

 others discussed in this Bulletin, is irregular and sporadic in its 

 outbreaks and in many seasons treatment will not be necessary, but 

 it is best alwavs for the grower to follow T such methods of practice 

 as give the least encouragement to attack, and to know what measures 

 can be used in an emergency. 



