128 On the Means of Destroying the Red Spider, $c. 



peach house, and vinery, instead of water from an engine; and I have 

 reason to believe with perfect success. 



My friend Mr. Williams of Pitmaston, has perfectly succeeded 

 in banishing the Red Spider from his melon house by causing 

 sulphur to evaporate from the hottest part of his flues ; but, I think, 

 not without some ill consequences. His machinery is a good deal 

 superior to mine, and his skill and science in no degree inferior ; 

 but his melons though very large, and apparently perfect, are 

 generally much surpassed by mine in richness and flavour. When 

 sulphur is made to evaporate, some uncombined acid flies off, and 

 this Mr. Williams suspects (and I agree with him in opinion) to 

 operate injuriously upon the health of his plants. It seems proba- 

 ble that the same uncombined acid would cause the flowers of 

 sulphur to operate injuriously, but though I have often applied it 

 in large quantities, I never witnessed any ill effects. 



