THE VINE AND ITS FRUIT. 



81 



raroly suffer, a fair proof that more fresh air and 

 less atmosphei'ic moisture will prevent this evil. 



Air Roots on the Stems. — Many people take 

 tittle heed of these, but allow them to grow on and 

 die ofE with the foliage. If the shoots are placed 

 over pota of soil or moss, they soon take hold and 

 form established ^•ines. The late SIi-. Fleming 

 used to moss the stems, and feed by sjiinging with 

 liquid ; but they ai-e unsightly, and, like warts on the 

 lea^-es, they incontostably prove that something is 

 wrong. Aerial roots proceed from two causes, either 

 the borders are cold, wet, and unfavovurable to the 

 growth of the natural roots at tho time when a large 

 expanse of foliage and fruit is making a heavy 

 demand upon them, or the vinery is kept too close 

 and warm. The remedy for the first evil will be 

 found in lifting and relaying the i-oots in new 

 compost, for the second in a more peife'ct system of 

 ventilation. 



Fungus on the Roots. — Although this under- 

 ground and consequently out -of -sight worker does 



:^^ 



F^. S2.— Bed Spider (magnified). 



not often attack vines, when it does it generally 

 works serious mischief before its presence is de- 

 tected. It sometimes happens that vines, and not 

 unfrequently conifers, apparently in the rudest 

 health, suddenly collapse and die; when, on the 

 removal of the soil, the roots are found completely 

 covered with the mycelium or spawn of some fungus, 

 which has been produced by decaying woody matter 

 in the border. The most common cause of the 

 presence of this fimgus is the introduction of leaf- 

 mould containing bits of sticks in the formation of 

 the border. Or it may be that the decaying stem of 

 an old \-ine has been left in the border. T\lien this 

 rapidly-spreading fungus is found, there is only one 

 remedy — the entire removal of every particle of soil 

 containing the white thread-like mycelium, other- 

 Vfise it win soon overrun the borders, and destroy 

 Bvery root. When all the affected soil has been 

 30 



removed, the roots should he well washed with 

 warm water and sprinkled with quicklime. This 

 will speedily destroy all the spawn with which it is 

 bi-ought into contact, when the borders may he 

 made up with new compost. 



Insects -wrhich Prey upon the Vine. — As 

 many insects by then- persistent attacks on the 

 leaves, shoots, and roots of %'ines speedily weaken or 

 destroy their vitality, every grape-gi'ower should he 

 able to detect them at sight. To enable biTn to do 

 this, the accompanying iUustrations, which are highly 

 magnified, -with insti-uctions for destrojTng the in- 

 sects, will be found useful. 



Red Spider — Tetranychus telarius (Fig. 32.) — 

 With the exception of the Phylloxera, this is the 

 most general, as it is the most troublesome insect 

 with which the gi-ape-grower has to contend. It 

 breeds and feeds on the lower sides of the leaves, 

 where it spins its web, and increases with alarming 

 rapidity, especially if the house is kept hot, dry, and 

 badly ventilated. In colour it is of a lightish brown, 

 but so small that it cannot readily be seen without 

 the aid of a magnif ying-glass ; but not so its work, 

 as the first intimation which the experienced culti- 

 vater receives is generally conveyed by the brownish 

 appearance of the leaves, often in h diy comer or 

 near the hot- water pipes. In such places these 

 minute insects breed by the thousand, and feed upon 

 the juices of the leaves, which they very soon destroy. 

 From the leaves, if unchecked, they soon find their 

 way to the bimches, which it is hardly necessary to 

 say never colour or attain their proper flavour. 



With the above remarks for his guidance, the 

 amateur should ever be on the alert for the enemy, 

 and the appearance of the first brownish-looking 

 leaf should be the signal 

 for unrelenting warfare. 

 In the first instance, 

 sponging the lower sides 

 of the leavet with warm 

 soapy water may be re- 

 sorted to, and although it 

 is a slow process, it is a 

 cei-tain cure, and an activB 

 person will go over many 

 leaves in a few hours. 

 Supplementary to spong- 

 ing, water the roots freely, and keep the atmosphere 

 of the house as moist as may be consistent -nith the 

 health of the growing \Tnes. If incessant syringing 

 could be practised, and every leaf could be thoroughly 

 washed, the webs would be broken, and spider would 

 soon ^sappear; but as ordinary water would damage 

 the fruit, ihe syringe can only be used when it is 



Fig. 33. — Tlirips minutis 

 siina. 



