143 
live exposed on the ‘leaves, since the former are protected by the 
growths in which they live. Fortunately, they are not ordinarily 
actively migratory, and spread very slowly from the trees, and even 
from the branches on which they secure a lodgment. This fact is 
of importance to us, for, by plucking off the galled leaves when 
they first appear and burning them, the mites can be prevented 
from increasing to an injurious extent. A sudden change of tem- 
perature has, it is thought, resulted favorably to the gardener by 
destroying mites. Boisduval tells us that the work of the red spider 
of hot-houses may be checked by taking the infested plants into a 
cool room. Carrying such plants into the open air has a similar 
effect, it only being necessary to keep the roots warm with mulching 
or earth to enable them to stand the change. Other mites and the 
larve of the lace-winged flies prey upon plant mites, xnd doubtless 
do good service in reducing their numbers. The following useful 
suggestion is taken from ‘‘A Manual of Injurious Insects,” by 
Eleanor A. Ormerod: 
“Looking at this point of sulphur being generally an ingredient 
in washes or applications for the destruction of Red 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 recom- 
mended: One pound of flour 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 ources; soft soap, two ounces to each 
gallon 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 cold enough to bear the 
hand, and has been found to destroy insect pests effectually and 
quickly. This may be used as a syringing, or dip for infested 
shoots, or well rubbed with a brush into the infested bark.” 
