224 RED SPIDER. 



injurious to vegetation in hot dry weather ; and consequently 

 washings and syringiugs, or drenchings by means of the 

 garden-engine, which will render the leafage and ground, and 

 the walls to which the trees may be attached, moist, will be 

 very serviceable. The extreme dryness of air and soil are 

 thus counteracted, and a healthy growth encouraged, which 

 more or less counterbalances the injury to the leaves from 

 the suction of the mites. 



It is important to check the attack at the very beginning, 

 and for this purpose syringings morning and evening are 

 advised, sent hard at the under side of the leaves, so as to 

 break the webs and wash them down wdth the contained 

 mites, if possible, or at least do good by lodging something in 

 them offensive to the mites. 



Sulphur "is the active principle and most efficient agent" 

 in preparations for destroying Bed Spider, and sulphur and 

 soft-soap combined in various ways are amongst the most 

 reliable remedies. 



Amongst the Hop-gardens in Kent " washing the plants 

 with soft-soap and water, or even with pure water, is a remedy 

 for the Bed Spider, and some planters tried a solution of sul- 

 phur, thrown over the plants by the ordinary washing-engines 

 in 1868, which killed these mites." 



Looking at this point of sulphur being generally an in- 

 gredient in washes or applications for the destruction of Ked 

 Spider and other Acari, and the circumstance that in its crude 

 state it does not combine with most of the fluids used for this 

 purpose, may account for frequent failures in home-made 

 applications. In order to make it combine with whatever 

 liquid may be used, the sulphur should be boiled with an 

 alkali, and the following recipe has been recommended : one 

 pound of Hour of sulphur and two pounds of fresh lime boiled 

 together in four gallons of water ; or, to save the trouble of 

 boiling, the sulphuret of lime may be purchased and used 

 thus : — Of this sulphuret take four ounces ; soft-soap, two 

 ounces to each gallon of hot water ; the soap and sulphuret 

 to be well mixed before the addition of the water, which is to 

 be gradually poured on, the mixture being stirred during the 

 time, when a uniform fluid will be obtained without sediment, 

 which may be used when cool enough to bear the hand, and 

 has been found to destroy insect-pests eflectually and quickly. 

 This may be used as a syringing, or a dip for infested shoots, 

 or well rubbed with a brush into infested bark. 



Gishurst compound is a good application, and sulphur in 

 any form appears to act well. Probably the soap and sulphur 

 compound sold by the Chiswick Soap Company, Chiswick, 

 Middlesex, would be a thoroughly serviceable application. 



