298 Red Spider, 



RED SPIDER. 



The great agent in the destruction of red spider is water, which may not 

 inaptly be termed its natural enemy. Water forcibly driven against foliage 

 infested with red spider will free it of the pest ; and that is the best means 

 ^o adopt in the case of plants which will not be injured by its application : 

 syringing with soft water is the best remedy, as well as preventive, which I 

 have tried. Whenever a plant shows unmistakable signs of the presence 

 of red spider, it is well to syringe it forcibly, directing the water against 

 the under side of the leaves : and this is best done in the evening, at the 

 time of shutting up the house ; or if the house is not closed, or the plants 

 are exposed, after the sun has declined in power. Bear in mind, that 

 syringing once or twice is not of any great avail ; but it must be persisted 

 in until the trees are cleared. The only cases in which the use of water 

 for the destruction of red spider cannot be recommended are when the 

 trees or plants are in flower; for then a dry atmosphere may be desirable 

 for the setting of the fruit : and when a tree is ripening its fruit or wood, 

 then a free use of the syringe may not be advisable. When syringing can 

 be adopted, it will be found the very best means for the prevention and 

 destruction of insect enemies. It is conducive to health and vigor, frees 

 the leaves of dust, and lessens the evils of an artificial or diy atmosphere. 

 It is objected to syringing, that it is not natural, and cannot be otherwise 

 than injurious; it being sufficient if the atmosphere be kept moist by sprin- 

 kling the floors, walls, &c., and by the evaporation of water from troughs 

 upon the hot-water pipes. Such may be the case ; but I have failed to 

 experience it, having seen the foliage of the vine brown, and ready to fall 

 off, by the time the fruit was ripe, and peaches shedding their leaves before 

 the wood was mature. 



When the syringe cannot be used, then we must look elsewhere for the 

 means of destroying the red spider. And here I would discriminate bet^veen 

 plants which can, and others which cannot, bear an application destructive 

 to the insect. I may instance the vine and melon as plants to which a 

 solution of soft soap, at the rate of two ounces to the gallon, cannot be 

 safely applied ; and yet soft-soap water of this strength is effectual, and 

 not injurious to the foliage of most trees and plants, when applied with a 



