VINE PESTS. 145 



done before the leaves begin to decay. Dress, the vine 

 rods in the winter with eight ounces of Gishurst Com- 

 pound to each gallon of water, working it into all the 

 crevices with a half -worn-out paint brush. A careful 

 watch should be kept the following summer, and if a 

 mealy bug be seen just touch it with a small brush dipped 

 in spirits of wine. 



Red Spider (Tetranychus telarius). — This is one of 

 the worst pests to vines under glass. A bad. attack will 

 prevent the grapes ripening properly, and also injure the 

 crop the following season. Its presence is first indicated 

 by a few brown patches on the leaves. These patches 

 may become as large again the following day, if it be a 

 hot one,, and the pest may spread through the whole house 

 in a fortnight in hot weather. 



Eemedies. — Plenty of moisture is the best prevention, 

 but it will not cure it. When the spots are first seen each 

 affected leaf should be sponged, or brushed, with soft 

 soap and sulphur. Mix four ounces of soft soap with one 

 ounce of flowers of sulphur, and pour on to it one gallon 

 of boiling water, and stir until all is dissolved. Lay the 

 upper part of the leaf flat on to your hand, then put the 

 mixture on the under side with a new paint brush or 

 sponge, drawing the brush to and fro so as to work the 

 mixture into the crevices and between the ribs. The brush 

 is rather better than the sponge for the purpose. After 

 every affected leaf has been brushed, syringe very forcibly 

 with clear soft water. Red spider is nearly always on the 

 under sides of the leaves, but they go to the upper 

 sides when the sun is shining, in which case the brushing 

 is best done when there is no sunshine. As soon as the 

 grapes are cut syringe the whole house and vines with the 

 same mixture at a temperature of 180 deg., or with five 

 ounces of Gishurst Compound to each gallon of water. 

 Thoroughly brush the rods over in the winter with eight 

 ounces of Gishurst Compound to each gallon of water, 

 working it into all the crevices and around the " eyes." 



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