158 
DESTRUCTION OF THE RED SPIDER. 
would not advise to force them again, as young two years old plants 
are far better. 
Those persons who have no forcing-houses, may have rhubarb 
something earlier, by placing sea-cale pots with loose tops over the 
roots without dung; and when the stalks get to the top of one pot, 
take off the lid, and place another pot upon it: this will allow them 
to grow to a great length, without danger of breaking. 
Joseph Paxton. 
Chatsworth , March Is/, 1833. 
ARTICLE V. 
ON THE DESTRUCTION OF THE RED SPIDER, IN FORCING-HOUSES. 
BY MR. STAFFORD. 
As far as my knowledge extends, Mr. Speechley was the first indi¬ 
vidual, who recommended sulphur for the destruction of the Red 
Spider ; (Acarus tellurius) and in most cases, by his manner of ap¬ 
plication, it was a certain cure. However, from the length of time 
it required, connected with the tedious operation, of separately 
brushing both the under and upper surface of every leaf, rendered it 
almost impossible to do it to any extent. 
Previous to the time of the method 1 here intend to explain, com¬ 
ing to my knowledge, the Vines alone, at this place, generally occu¬ 
pied a man three weeks, in performing an operation more unpleasant 
and injurious to a person’s health, than all others connected with 
gardening ; for this reason alone, many persons gave up the method 
as utterly impracticable. Another great objection was, the friction 
of the brush often injured the leaves, so that those who had sufficient 
perseverance, to go entirely through with the operation, generally 
found when they had finished, the plants they had been dressing 
were considerably damaged. This led some persons to start the er¬ 
roneous idea of washing the flues with sulphur, under the supposi¬ 
tion, that it would prevent the insect’s appearance; judging very 
wisely, that to prevent a disease is far better than to cure it. 
We know from experience, that sulphur in an ignited state will 
destroy either animal or vegetable life, and to apply any quantity of 
it to those parts of the flues subject to great heat, will always be at¬ 
tended with serious, if not fatal consequences. Another train of in¬ 
surmountable difficulties presented themselves under the old system ; 
