THE YINE AXD iT>S FRUIT. 



81 



rarely suffer, a fair proof that more fresh, air and 

 less atmospheric moisture will prevent this evil. 



Air Roots on the Stems. — Many people take 

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

 die off with the foliage. If the shoots are jjlaced 

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

 foi-m established -v-ines. The late Mr. Fleming- 

 used to moss the stems, and feed by syringing with 

 liquid ; but they are unsightly, and, like warts on the 

 leaves, they incontestably prove that something is 

 wrong. Aerial roots proceed from two causes, either 

 the borders are cold, wet, and unfavourable to the 

 growth of the natural roots at the time when a large 

 expanse of foliage and frait 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 re-laying the roots in new 

 compost, for the second in a more perfect system of 

 ventilation. 



Fungus on the Roots. — Although this under- 

 ground and consequently out -of -sight worker does 



Fig. 32.— Eed Spider (magnified). 



not often attack vines, when it does it generally 

 works serious mischief before its presence is de- 

 tected. It sometimes happens that ^dnes, and not 

 uri frequently conifers, apparently in the rudest 

 health, suddenly collapse and die; when, on the 

 removal of the soil, the roots are foimd completely 

 covered with the mycelium or spa^Ti of some fungus, 

 which has been produced by decaying woody matter 

 in the border. The most common cause of the 

 jjresence of this fungus 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. When this 

 rapidly- spreading fungus is found, there is only one 

 remedy — the entii^e removal of every particle of soil 

 containing the white thread-like mycelium, other- 

 wise it will soon overrun the borders, and destroy 

 every root. When aU the affected soil has been 

 30 



removed, the roots should be well washed with 

 warm water and sprinkled with quicklime. Tliis 

 will speedily destroy all the spavm with ^^•hich it is 

 brought into contact, when the borders may be 

 made up with new compost. 



Insects which Prey upon the Vine. — As 



many insects by their persistent attacks on the 

 leaves, shoots, and roots of \ines speedily weaken or 

 destroy their vitality, every grape-grower should be 

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

 this, the accompanpng illustrations, which are highly 

 magnified, vdth instructions for destroying the in- 

 sects, will be found useful. 



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

 With the exception of the Phylloxera, this is the 

 most general, as it is the most troublesome insect 

 with which the grape -grower has to contend. It 

 breeds and feeds on the lower sides of the leaves, 

 w^here it spins its web, and increases with alarming 

 rapidity, esx^ecially if the house is kept hot, diy, 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 woi-k, 

 as the first intimation which the experienced culti- 

 vator receives is generally conveyed by the brownish 

 appearance of the leaves, often in a dry 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 

 w^ay to the bunches, which it is hardly necessary to 

 say never colour or attain their proper flavour. 



With the above remarks for his guidance, the 

 amatem- 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 leaves with warm 

 soapy water may be re- 

 sorted to, and although it 

 is a slow process, it is a 

 certain cure, and an active 

 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 Muth the 

 health of the gi-owing \dnes. If incessant syrraging 

 could be practised, and every leaf could be thoroughly 

 washed, the webs would be broken, and spider would 

 soon disappear ; but as ordinary water would damage 

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



Fig. 33. — Thrips minutis- 

 sima. 



