July 22, 1880. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
63 
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,/y'rY2 „ Hsr 
^jj fCOMIN G EVENT,SW 
Ki- 
22nd 
Tn 
[Ives (Hunts) Shows 
Newport (Monmouth) Horticultural Show ; Aberdeen and St- 
23rd 
F 
Botanical and Horticultural Congress at Brussels. 
24th 
S 
Wirral Rose Show ; Cleckheatou Agricultural Show. 
25th 
SUN 
9tii Sunday after Trinity. 
26th 
[Horticultural Society, Fruit and Floral Committees at 11 A.M. 
27 th 
Tu 
National Carnation and Picotee Show, South Kensington ; Royal 
28th 
W 
Shrewsbury Rose Show; West of Scotland Pansy Show. 
MEALY BUG IN VINERIES. 
HERE is no insect with which the gardener has 
to contend that causes greater annoyance and dis¬ 
appointment than the mealy hug, and certainly 
none of the many pests that inhabit fruit and 
.Lo^ plant houses are so difficult to eradicate as it is. 
It has been asserted that when the bug once 
takes possession of a house its entire extirpation is 
l 3j) impossible ; such may be the case, but my experience 
points in the opposite direction. At the same time I 
admit that extreme measures have to be adopted for 
thoroughly clearing it out, which I believe is not possible 
at the first attempt, but it must be closely watched for some 
time afterwards. In Peach houses it is much easier to be 
disposed of. One good cleaning of the trees and the house 
in winter, as well as removing the surface soil during the 
dormant season of the trees, with the syringe constantly being 
employed when they are in active growth, soon destroys the 
insects, which do not like water syringed upon them with 
force, and wherever it is applied regularly and sufficiently 
the bug will be found to diminish rather than increase. In 
vineries if the Grapes are to retain their bloom syringing would 
be entirely out of the question until the fruit is gathered. 
If vineries are not badly infested, the Vines should have 
all the loose bark removed after pruning, and be well washed 
with fir-tree oil at the rate of half a pint to three gallons of 
water, or with Gishurst compound. Paraffin oil is certain 
death to the mealy bug, but should only be employed by ex¬ 
perienced hands upon Vines, for it will kill the Vines as 
well as the bug if not judiciously applied. It is good for 
cleaning the woodwork, but must be diluted with water, and 
should be applied with a brush. The surface soil, if the border 
be inside, should be removed and fresh soil supplied. The walls 
should also be washed with hot lime mixed with paraffin oil. 
Even if every part of the house and Vines is thoroughly cleaned 
the pest will make its appearance again after the Vines 
have started into growth and the season has advanced. The 
early spring or summer, according to the time when forcing 
commences, is when the insects increase. Their destruction 
can be accomplished when they are first seen creeping upon 
the Vines, which should be examined sedulously and per- 
severingly. If left until the foliage expands the work of 
searching for the enemy is almost useless ; but if the search is 
thorough and continuous early in the season, and the insects 
are killed as they appear, they will considerably decrease, and 
in a season or two the house will be entirely free. 
Vineries that have become badly infested require a large 
amount of work to thoroughly clean them, and the best and 
most satisfactory system that can be adopted is to remove the 
Vines and all the soil, drainage, &c., from the border. The 
wood and wirework should be cleaned with paraffin oil, and 
afterwards well painted. The brickwork if previously lime- 
washed should be cleaned, and the walls, paths, pipes, and 
other portions of the house where practicable washed with 
spirits of salts. This if well and thoroughly applied will 
destroy any bug that may be concealed. This being done fresh 
drainage should be employed, the border remade, and fresh 
Vines planted. Clean Vines must be obtained, and it is far 
better to wait and start by raising Vines from eyes than to plant 
infested Vines. After planting constant attention must be 
paid for fear the enemy should again appear, for probably it 
will do so, but in small numbers, and must be promptly re¬ 
moved. A house here that was badly infested was treated as 
described, and the mealy bug appeared again some time after 
the Vines were planted. They were planted in July, 1878, but 
before winter no trace of any insects was to be seen, and the 
house is up to the present time thoroughly clean. Some may 
probably conclude that if bug in small quantities can be era¬ 
dicated from Vines, it can also be banished from houses badly 
infested. Experience does not support this view of the matter. 
AVhen the insects are few they are upon the Vines principally, 
but when numerous they are in the walls, in any crevice of the 
woodwork, under the paint if possible, and even upon the 
strong roots of the Vines under the surface of the border. 
Vineries infested as described may be extreme cases, yet such 
cases have existed and do exist, and a thorough clearing-out 
and cleaning as above indicated is the only means of stamping 
out this, one of the greatest enemies of the gardener. 
AVhen mealy bug exists upon Vines the insects are sure to 
make their way into the bunches if every precaution is not 
taken to prevent them. Pieces of white paper should be cut cir¬ 
cular in shape (the size depending upon the size of each bunch 
of Grapes), with a small hole in the centre, a slit being made 
from this to the edge for admitting the footstalk, by which 
means the paper can be fixed over the bunch. A small portion 
of cotton wool should be placed above the paper round the 
stem of the bunch. This will prevent the insects crawling 
down the stem through the hole in the paper to the bunch. It 
will be found that the cotton wool is a good trap for the pest, 
and should occasionally be removed and fresh wool supplied. 
The cotton wool alone will prevent the insects going into the 
bunch to a certain extent, but better still the paper and wool 
combined. The paper shield also prevents many insects that 
fall from the Vine going into the bunches, but a few will 
probably find their way there, and if allowed to remain for a 
time they increase rapidly. The bunches should, therefore, 
undergo a rigid scrutiny at least once a week. Bunches that 
are already infested must be cleansed as they are cut, and if 
the insects are removed with a feather or small brush the 
Grapes are much more rubbed than if placed under a tap with 
a good force of water running through the bunches, which will 
remove the greater portion of the bug without much damage 
to the bloom if the work is carefully carried out. The Grapes 
must be afterwards hung up where air can play freely about 
and through the bunches to dry them. If any insects remain 
after the washing they can be removed with a small brush. 
The paper collars do not look attractive in a vinery, but they 
assist considerably in keeping the pest from the bunches, 
No. 4.— Von. I., Third Series. 
no. 1660.—yol. lxiy., Old Series. 
