76 FRUITS AND X'EGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



THRIPS 



Tlirips is not found in the grapcrx as often as is red spider, but it is %ery 

 destructive when it does appear and diflicult to eradicate. It is a long, slender 

 insect w iiich adheres closely to the foliage, and even spraying will hardly dis- 

 lodge it. It should be cleared out at once. It feeds on the foliage in a way 

 similar to red spider and a dry, hot atmosphere will cause it to spread apace. 

 A mixture of sulphur and finely powdered tobacco, dusted ()\er the foliage, is 

 effecti\e. 



THE VINE WEEVIL 



Another insect which is at times very troublesome in the early graper\ is 

 the vine weevil (Curculio vitis). In the larval state it lives in the border, and 

 appears toward the Spring after the foliage has come out on the vine. It is a 

 small, dark insect, very much like the rose weevil. If left alone it will do consid- 

 erable damage, eating holes through the foliage, thereby weakening its action 

 and disfiguring it, for perfect foliage onl\- is beautiful. The only remedy is to go 

 over the foliage carefully, picking the weevils out by hand. If they are very 

 plentiful, spread a piece of muslin on the border and then give the vine a sudden 

 jar and they will drop down; as they are very nearly of the same color as the 

 soil it would be impossible to pick them up if they were allowed to drop down 

 without the cloth spread underneath the vine. In this way one can soon get rid 

 of them. The\^ do not seem to bother the late houses. I have at times seen a 

 few in a midseason house, but not enough to cause trouble. 



Mildew is one of the most serious of all the fungoid growths and, if allowed 

 to spread, it will ruin a house of Grapes in a short time, for, when once it gets 

 into the berries, it will cause the skins to harden, thereby checking their devel- 

 opment. The berries are liable to split, and in this way a crop which otherwise 

 might ha\'e been a good one will be a failure. In our northeastern climate mil- 

 dew is a dreaded fungus; not so much in the early house where we ha\e the 

 artificial heat to combat it, but it is when the fire heat is cut ofl" that the danger 

 of its spread increases. It all depends on the conditions, but w hen once it gets 

 a foothold among the foliage it is most difficult of eradication, and if it is allowed 

 to get the upper hand, both the foliage and the fruit will receive a serious check. 

 Never close the house tight when there is no more fire heat to rely on — this is the 

 best preventive. Leave a good crack of air on at night. Then, as the tempera- 

 ture rises in the morning, gradually give more air. Keep the house near 80 

 during the day, with ~o at night, and gn e no bottom air until the Grapes 

 begin to color. Under these conditions, and with a fairly steady tempera- 

 ture, there should be very little mildew. In closing your grapery toward even- 

 ing, allow the temperature to run up the same as with fire heat. You may 

 count yourself fortunate if you escape mildew. However, the \ines must be 

 gradually inured to this treatment and it is advisable to accustom them to it 



