146 THE FRUIT-TREE AND SHRUB PRUNER. 



applied pretty freely to the trees by means of the 

 syringe ; but the chief thing is to apply the insecticide 

 as soon as the aphides appear, and never to allow them 

 to gain strength for a day ; for the rapidity with which 

 these aphides increase in the course of only one day is 

 quite astonishing, and the bad consequences are equally 

 as rapid, for the leaves and young shoots soon feel the 

 effects of their presence. 



The Red Spider. — This diminutive pest is a trouble- 

 some one, and appears on Vines and Peach-trees 

 during a dry atmosphere. Its presence is soon made 

 apparent by a peculiar and mottled appearance in the 

 leaves, which soon lose their healthy green hue. No 

 time must be lost when this pest appears, but imme- 

 diately apply the sulphur-water freely with the syringe. 

 Ten or twelve pounds of stone brimstone broken up and 

 put into a half-hogshead barrel without the head, with 

 two pounds of soft soap added to it, then pour ten or twelve 

 gallons of hot water on to the whole and stir it to dis- 

 solve the soap ; let it stand for a day and a night, or 

 as much longer as you can, then dilute it with clean 

 water up to the half-hogshead ; let it settle for a few 

 hours and then dip out and syringe the tree infested 

 overnight, and again with clean water in the morn- 

 ing if the fruit is getting to a good size. Clean water 

 syringings will often arrest this pest if well followed up, 



On removing Fruit Trees. 



I "did not intend to say anything specially on this 

 head, but as there will be a constant necessity for this 

 in connection with the pruning and renovation of fruit 

 trees, as well as for the greater convenience of the 

 readers of this work, I consider it necessary to give a 

 few hints to those who may require such information in 

 order that they may avoid disappointment. 



As I have remarked elsewhere in this work, it is no 

 doubt really necessary that all gardeners, at the least, 

 should be acquainted with the subterraneous action of 

 plants, more especially as here lies their weal or their 



