Spot 



( 356 ) 



Spring Beetles 



SPOT. 



A popular name given to several fungoid 

 diseases attacking garden plants, and betraying 

 their presence by white, brown, or black spots 

 upon the leaves. 



Grape Anthracnose (Gla:osporium ampelophagum 

 or Sphaceloma Ampelinnm) is sometimes spoken of 

 as Grape Spot. Grape Rot and bird's Eye Rot are 

 other names for it. The spots are grey, with a 

 vermilion red ring. Leaves, shoots, and berries are 

 all attacked. Spraying with a solution of sulphate 

 of iron (6 Ib. in 14 gallons of water) is recom- 

 mended, but this must only be done when the 

 canes are at rest. For checking the spread of the 

 disease in the growing season, dust with equal 

 parts of air-slaked lime and flowers of sulphur. 



Orchid Spot is a common malady amongst 

 exotic Orchids. Its spread is assisted by fluctua- 

 tions of temperature and a very stagnant, moisture 

 laden atmosphere in the houses during the late 

 autumn and winter months. 



Tomatoes are subject to the attacks of several 

 " spots." Cladosporium fulvum is sometimes 

 known as the Yellow Spot of Tomatoes. Black 

 Spot (Macrosporium Tomati) is fully as trouble- 

 some and rather more widespread. (See TOMATO 

 DISEASES.) 



The Fairy-ring Spot of Carnations is the work of 

 Heterosporium echinulatum. The spots are light 

 coloured. Burning badly infested plants and 

 spraying those lightly attacked with potassium 

 sulphide, J oz. to 1 gallon of soft water, are the 

 remedies. (See also CARNATIONS.) 



SPRAGUEA. 



A genus of two species of half-hardy perennials 

 (ord. Portulaceae), suited for small borders or rock- 

 work. Propagation, by seeds sown in a frame, or 

 by cuttings. Common soil. 



Principal Species : 

 umbellata, 6", Jy., pur., \vh. 



SPRAYING. 



The treatment of various fungoid and insect 

 pests by spraying has come into favour of late 

 years. The system has grown naturally out of the 

 use of the syringe, but there is this difference, that 

 whereas only a comparatively coarse spray is 

 possible with a syringe, an almost mist-like spray 

 is obtained from a proper sprayer. 



Sulphate of copper is a common ingredient 

 of solutions for spraying, as in the Bordeaux 

 Mixture employed for Potatoes and Tomatoes. (See 

 BORDEAUX MIXTURE.) A pure sulphate of copper 

 solution is used to spray fields badly overrun with 

 Charlock. The sulphate sticks to the rough leaves 

 of the Charlock and kills the plants, whilst it does 

 not cling to the smooth leaves of the Wheat. 

 Strong nitrate of soda solution has been used for 

 the same purpose. Potassium sulphide when 

 dissolved in water, Paris Green in water, kerosene 

 emulsion, and the soda-potash mixture for the 

 winter dressing of fruit trees are other favourite 

 spraying mixtures. (See also INSECTICIDES and 

 FUNGICIDES.) 



When there are acres of Wheat or fruit trees to 

 spray special machines are necessary. Mr. Straw- 

 son's Strawsoniser is a large, horse-drawn machine 

 used with a sulphate of copper solution. The 

 Merryweather steam pumping machine, which is 



Spoxledera (we Crratotheca). 



strong enough to keep from twelve to twenty-four 

 sprays at work at once, is an excellent contrivance 

 for disinfecting Hop and fruit plantations, and 

 with the very fine spray sent out from the nozzles 

 the insecticide or fungicide is husbanded to the 

 utmost extent, all parts of the tree being wetted 

 with surprisingly little expenditure of fluid. 



The employment of hand-pumps for forcing the 

 liquid through the nozzles is largely favoured, 

 although it is rather costlv from the labour point 

 of view. Small knapsack sprayers are in use. 

 The Auto-Spray No. 1 bids fair to become a real 

 boon where spraying on a small scale has to b& 

 done. The fluid is contained in a reservoir with 

 a capacity of 4 gallons, and the motive power 

 applied by merely turning a tap at the end of the 

 short length of hose attached to a cylinder of 

 compressed air. The machine is charged with 

 compressed air by a few strokes of a plunger, 

 which is an integral part of the whole machine. 

 In nearly all spraying it is difficult to get the 

 liquid free from sediment. Even a little of the 

 latter will choke up the fine jets of the spraying 

 nozzle, and cause delay and proportionate expense. 

 This can only be overcome by constant agitation. 

 The Abol spraying syringe is also useful, and it is 

 not expensive. 



SPREKELIA. (JACOBEA LILY.) 



A genus of greenhouse or half-hardy bulbous 

 plants (ord. Amaryllidese), cultivated in a similar 

 manner to the Amaryllises (which see). They may 

 be planted out on a south border against a green- 

 house in April or May, but are most satisfactory in 

 pots. 



Only Species and Varieties : 



Cybister (now Hippeas- flowers smaller, paler 



trum Cybister). C S 7/^. glauca). 



formosissirna, 2', Je. , - Kanvinskii, duller 



crim. (syn. Amaryllis colour, but keeled and 



f onnosissima) . bordered wh. 



glauca, Ivs. glaucous, riugens, Ivs. glaucous, 

 upper segment marked 



SPRENGELIA. 



Neat greenhouse shrubs (ord. Epacridese), of 

 which only one or two are in cultivation. Propa- 

 gation, by seeds or cuttings. Soil, sandy peat. 

 (Sue also EPACRIS.) 



Principal Species : 



Anderaoni (now Ander- Pouceletia, 1', My., sc. 



sonia sprengelioides). (>l. Ponceletia spren- 



incaniata, 2', My., pk. gelioides). 



(nyns. montana and 



propinqua). 



SPRING BEETLES. (SKIPJACKS.) 

 Spring Beetles (Elaterida;) are responsible for 

 the troublesome Wireworm. If the beetles be laid 

 on their backs on any hard surface they leap 

 several inches into the air to gain their feet again. 

 Directly, the beetles do very little harm, but they 

 should be destroyed whenever seen, if only for the 

 sake of the Wireworms which they bring into 

 existence, (tfee also WIHEWOKM.) 



Kagle (Oncidiiim carllKiijini HSI'). 

 prnij Hell (sue Sityrinohium), 

 Sjprwg (Irnss (we Anthcaartthum), 



Spring Siimrfalu' (SIT Li-in-iijinii rrrnum}. 

 Spring Ktarjion-er (see Uriidiira \Trit<:lcia\ inti- 

 fora). 



