Queries and Answers. 377 



of soft string, about 1 ft. long, and dip the middle part of it into some gas 

 tar, which I tie loosely round the stem of the plant, and of those that are near, 

 about 5 in. or 6 in. from the ground. I generally adopt this plan for my best 

 dahlias, just as they are coming into flower, in order to prevent the insects 

 from ascending the plants. I immediately begin rolling the walks near the 

 plants (first shaking them) in the morning, while the dew is upon the grass, and 

 in the evening about six or seven o'clock. If the plants are on the edge of 

 the lawn, three or four times the width of the roll will be sufficient. I have, 

 by following the above plan, nearly extirpated them ; as I had but two dahlia, 

 plants, the last autumn, that were injured by thrips ; and these immediately re- 

 covered after following the above plan. — J. H. R. Hinxton, near Saffron 

 Walden, March 9. 1836. 



[It is clear, fi'om our correspondent's description, that he means the species 

 of insect called in entomology Aphrophora spumaria, synon. Cicada spumaria 

 Lin., and commonly, in Britain, the cuckoo spit ; on the habits of which some 

 information is given in Vol. IX. p. 574, 575. On the thrips (Thrips physapus), 

 there is a little information in the Enci/clopcedia of Gardening, ed. 1835, § 3073., 

 illustrated by two figures (fig. 682./ 682. /z.) It is a minute insect, that is 

 common in the flowers of some species of plants, and is very distinct from the 

 Aphrophora. Our correspondent's information in relation to the means of 

 checking the prevalence of the Aphrophora spumaria is interesting.] 



A safe and effectual Remedy for that destructive jumping Insect the Thrips. — I 

 will just state to your correspondent Mr. Fish, in p. 162., my experience 

 on this subject, hoping he may glean something from it that may help to rid 

 himself of these enemies to the gardener. During the summer and autumn 

 of 1834, our vines at this place were sorely infested with the red spider and 

 thrips ; a great pait, or the whole, of the foliage of some of them was destroyed 

 by the latter insect, and dropped oft"; the fruit was also attacked, and was much 

 injured and disfigui'ed ; and, although we had a fine crop of grapes, such was 

 their appearance, that I felt ashamed of showing any one through the houses. 

 I was determined to use some means to destroy these depredators. Accord- 

 ingly, at the commencement of forcing in the beginning of February last year, 

 every part of our early house, viz. the rafters, bars, walls, flue, &c., was washed 

 with a mixture of black sulphur, i lb., flower of sulphur, ^ lb., and soft soap, i lb. ; 

 dissolved in two gallons of water, and applied whilst warm. The vines were 

 also anointed with the above mixture, dissolved in water, and mixed to the. 

 consistency of paint, and laid on with a painter's brush. The vines were 

 syringed every evening, until they commenced growth ; after which the syring- 

 ing was discontinued, and a damp atmosphere maintained, until the fruit was 

 perceived to be changing colour. The temperature of the house was frequently 

 found so low as 50° in the morning, and the leaves covered with drops of 

 water. A large crop of grapes was obtained : the bunches were fine, and the 

 berries well swelled ; and not a single insect of any kind was observed on the 

 foliage during the following summer. In the beginning of March, our late vines 

 were got into the succession house : they were treated in a similar way, and the 

 result was the same. I do not claim the above remedy as my own : I obtained it 

 from a former number of your Magazine; and I write you this merely to relate 

 its success in this instance. Here, and at various other places, I have observed 

 a disease in vines, which more frequently attacks the white muscat of Alex- 

 andria, than any other vine I know. The buds may break well, and show fruit; 

 but, to the disappointment of the gardener, his vines prove abortive : some- 

 times, however, the buds do not break, and part of the vine dies. This disease is 

 evidently caused by overbearing. The fruit of the white muscat of Alexandria 

 vine is long in coming to maturity: the bunches and berries are large; conse- 

 quently a large proportion of nutriment is required for its support ; and, when 

 this vine is excessively overborne, such a large porportion of sap is required 

 for the support of the grapes, that no " accumulation of sap" is formed for the 

 next year ; when, in consequence, the disease will appear; and, except proper 

 treatment be resorted to, the vine will thus continue for years. The best pre- 



