334 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



Thoroughly saturating and keeping the soil soaked with water for about six weeks has 

 proved effectual. The insect seems to be most troublesome in warm and dry soils, being 

 confined to inside borders kept too dry ; at least, it has not been found to infest vines in 

 moist or outside borders. Bi-sulphide of carbon applied to the roots also destroys the 

 pest without injury to the vines, especially when applied in winter. The American 

 vines, Yitis cordifolia and V, aestivalis, have been largely used on the Continent as 

 stocks on which to graft varieties of Y. vinifera, with good results in resisting the 

 attacks of the vine louse. 



Red Spider (Tetranychus telarius). This most troublesome and injurious insect to 

 the grape vine in this country is figured and described in Yol. L, page 269. Its 

 presence on vine leaves is indicated by their assuming a brownish appearance, caused 

 by the insect abstracting the juices, and, unless prompt measures for their extirpation 

 are taken, the foliage is speedily destroyed, the current crop injured or ruined, and the 

 following season's prospects prejudiced. 



To prevent attacks of red spider, the house should be thoroughly cleansed, the vines 

 washed and dressed, the border freed of the loose surface soil and a top-dressing 

 given directly the vines arc pruned. The roots must not lack water nor nourishment, 

 and the atmosphere should be maintained in a moist genial condition whilst the vines 

 are growing, with proper attention to the ventilation. If an attack occur promptly 

 sponge the infested leaves, and by that means prevent its spread until the grapes are 

 ripe and cut ; then thoroughly cleanse the vines by syringing and the application of an 

 insecticide. Clear rain-water may be used to free the foliage of red spider until the 

 grapes change colour. The hot-water pipes may be sulphured as described under 

 l Mildew," page 326, and the remedies given in Yol. I., page 269-272, be used accord- 

 ing to the exigencies. Eemember that draught and poverty at the roots and in the 

 atmosphere foster these mites. 



Scale (Lecanium (Coccus) vitis). The male insect is very small, brick red, thorax 

 black, horns (antennse) brown, with two transparent wings which have a thickened reJ 

 border in front, and the body terminates in two long bristles. The female is altogether 

 different. It is covered with a reddish-brown scale, with black dots, oval and convex, 

 and this shield is bordered by a white cottony substance in which the eggs are laid. 

 This plague can only exist where the vines are not properly attended to in winter 

 dressings, as it lives on the stems, and may spread to the leaves and fruit. It is not 

 a native of this country. Similar remarks apply to the vine mussel scale (Mytilapsi,j 



