52 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



conditions oijtain togetiu-r. But when these are present in very early graperies 

 I am convinced that the adventitious roots are due to atmospheric causes, and 

 the blame should not be put upon poor root action, cold feet, or any other cause 

 outside of the close atmosphere, and for this there is no remedy until the warm 

 weather comes in the Spring. 



KEEPING THE FRUIT HEALTLH 



The housekeeper is generally gauged by her cleanliness and orderliness 

 and, similarly, the fruit man. We may produce fine bunches of Grapes, but if 

 we are negligent in keeping our houses clean, a fine bunch of Grapes will not 

 offset the insects, mealy bug and red spider, which \\c fail to keep down. To 

 maintain clean houses requires the most constant care. Insect pests can \ery 

 easily be carried into a grapery, but it is not so easy to eradicate them when 

 once they get a foothold. One should be very cautious in allowing the man who 

 has charge of the fruithouses to work in the planthouses, if it can be avoided, 

 as tlie fruithouse may easily become infected in this way with undesirable 

 tenants. Once they get in Tand the>- like the atmosphere), they will spread 

 rapidly. 



All fruithouses should be thoroughly- cleaned before starting them up, 

 even if they already seem to be clean. Prevention is the best cure. Clean also 

 all the loose bark from the \ ines, for if this is allowed to remain on it may 

 become a lodging place for insects. Do not, however, strip the vines too much, 

 but pull away only the loose bark that will rub off easily; it will not hurt the 

 rod and may save much trouble later. For it certainly is difficult to eradicate 

 these pests when the vines are in active growth. It is also a good plan to wash 

 the \ines with a solution of whale oil soap or Gishurst's Compound, using 

 enough to make a good lather. If these precautions are taken, the house washed 

 down, and all the loose soil on the border removed before putting on the top 

 dressing, whether there are signs of noxious insects or not, there is no reason why 

 the grapehouse and the Grapes to be borne therein should not be perfectly 

 clean. Aside from the unpleasantness, Grapes will not keep for any length of 

 time with mealy bug on the bunches, nor will they finish up satisfactorily . There- 

 fore it pays to be on guard against all these evils and to fight the cause before 

 the enemy has had time to enter, for the chances are all in faxor of the bug w hen 

 once he gets into the bunch. 



