the middle of May and middle of August, and that 

 the ratio of growth is much greater during the 

 month hetween middle of June and middle of 

 July than during the month preceding and the 

 succeeding month. — Thomas Meehan, in Proc. 

 Acad. Nat. Sciences of FhUadelphui. 



The Eot on the Fruit of Wild Vines. — We 

 notice in the Western States the wild Grape rots 

 excessively in its wild state on trees, without any 

 management whatever. In scores, perhaps hun- 

 dreds, of rambles in the woods, during the past 

 fifteen years in this State, we have found the Grape 

 partially or completely rotted on the trees, alike in 

 the vicinity of cultivated fields and in the depths of 

 the "grand old forest." 



We have repeatedly called attention to this fact 

 — have exhibited bunches of the fruit and branches 

 of the vine — have found it on the hill-sides and in 

 the valleys ; but yet we have no key to the cause. 

 It is in some seasons worse than others. We have 

 found the rot in the woods when there was none in 

 our vineyard, although not two hundred yards dis- 

 tant ; and this season we f re trying to dig around 

 and prune a wild vine in a tree that has rotted 

 every year it had fruit, for eight years, to see if 

 there is any thing in management, — W^. MuiR, in 

 Colmans Rural World. 



Jnm^n Infriligpnrp. 



Red Spider. — Red spider is; perhaps, the most 

 destructive of all the insects which the horticultu- 

 rist has to combat. Being small, and confining its 

 first attacks to the under side of the leaves, it is not 

 easy of recognition in its early stages of develop- 

 ment ; but in a very short time foliage attacked by 

 it assumes a sickly, yellowish appearance on the 

 upper surfiice, and the parts immediately over the 

 spots where the insect is at work become dotted 

 with a number of minute whitish specks if the 

 leaves are those of the Peach or Fig tree ; but if 

 they are those of the Vine, the specks are of a 

 yellowish hue. These s;:ecks or dots increase in 

 size until twe whole leaf acquires a yellow and ma- 

 ture appearance, and its powers of exhalation and 

 inhalation being destroyed, it falls off. The small 

 specks or dots on the upper surface of the leaves 

 arn the best evidence of the presence of red spider ; 

 and if the under side of such leaves be examined, 

 there will be observed between the principal nerves 

 a number of minute specks or dots. These, on be- 

 ing touched with the point of a pin, will be seen to 



move about at a rapid rate, and, if observed with 

 the aid of a lens, they will be found to be in con- 

 stant motion, busy on that part of the leaf which 

 they have, for greater security, enveloped in a net- 

 work of the finest threads conceivable. If mea- 

 sures be not taken to check the spread of the insect 

 on its first appearance, it will rapidly wrap the leaf 

 in a fine network, and will not cease its work of de- 

 struction until the juices of the leaf have been so 

 completely exhausted, that it becomes totally inca- 

 pable of performing any of its functions, and falls 

 ofi". 



It is well to remember that the leaf of a Vine or 

 other plant may have every appearance of being 

 attacked by red spider, and yet that the insect may 

 not be present ; for the upper surface of a partly 

 scorched leaf has much the same aspect as one suf- 

 fering from red spider ; but, instead 'of speuks or 

 dots, scorched leaves usually exhibit blotches , be- 

 sides, in addition to the dots on the upper surface, 

 there are others corresponding to them on the un- 

 der surfiice, and when there are both, and those on 

 the under side move when touched, it is certain 

 that the leaves are not scorched, but infested with 

 red spider. 



Though the insect is termed the red spider, 

 scarcely one upon a leaf will be found of that color, 

 most of them being of a grey, incUning to a red- 

 dish-brown, and having whitish heads and legs. 

 The color and size of the insects vary in the case of 

 different plants, for on some they are much brighter 

 in color and larger than on others. 



The red spider attacks a great variety of plants, 

 but chiefly those which have large glossy leaves and 

 require a large supply of water ; and yet it does not 

 exclusively confine itself to the smooth-leaved 

 plants, but is as partial to the Egg Plant as to the 

 Violet or Strawberry. It appears to be constant in 

 nothing but in showing the same tokens of its pre- 

 sence, and in this respect it varies but shghtly, if 

 at all. Not being an entomologist, I must leave a 

 full description of the insect to those more qualified 

 for the task ; and here I may observe that a text- 

 book on insects injurious to garden crops, published 

 at a moderate price, would be a boon to many, who, 

 like myself, are willing to learn and yet cannot ob- 

 tain a work on the subject, except at a cost totally 

 ' disproportionate to their means. 



Of red spider 1 am only acquainted with two 

 kinds, or species. 1st. The small and very active 

 one that attacks Vines, Melons, and most cultivated 

 plants grown under glass or in warm situations out- 

 doors. 2d. A comparatively large one, which I 

 have only found on the Gooseberry and Ivy. I 



