76 THE COTTAGE GARDENER. May 
all these depredators, and the best recipe for it is 
sulphur; at least we can only say that we have not 
seen a red spider on the vines under our charge for 
the last half score years, or, indeed, much longer. 
We may, therefore, detail at once our mode of appli¬ 
cation. The vineries here (Oulton Park) are heated 
by hot-water piping, and we make a point of using 
these as the principal agents in destroying, or rather 
preventing, the red spider. About four dressings in 
the year secure to us a perfect immunity from this 
pest, not only on the vines but the plants, for we are 
crowded to suffocation with stove and miscellaneous 
plants, kidney-beans, pines, and a host of other 
things, beneath the vines at all times. This is no 
choice-work, it is a case of necessity. The houses 
alluded to being 30 feet in length, by about 16 in 
width, and about 12 feet high at back, we use about 
six ounces at least of flowers of sulphur in each 
house: this we have found by many years’ experience 
to he sufficient. The mode of application is very 
simple : the sulphur is put in a howl, and is applied 
by means of a painter’s “ dusting brush;” one man 
with a syringe goes a-head of the sulphur man and 
syringes the pipes, keeping them constantly wet; the 
sulphur is then applied by merely dipping the brush 
into the bowl; enough adheres to the dampness of 
the brush to form a regular coating or paint. We 
must here observe that we only apply it to the return 
pipe; the advance or “ flow ” pipe we fear, as it is so 
much hotter; the bottom pipe we plaster thickly 
from end to end, and no mischief has ever occurred 
through some scores of operations. This we have 
ever found effectual, and, if followed up, there will 
be small occasion for daubing the leaves of the vines 
with mixtures; this plan is to be avoided by all 
possible means, for grapes without a bloom upon 
them appear mauled, and can never be relished like 
those which look a perfect picture on a dish. 
Syringing. —Many persons deem it indispensable 
to syringe vines occasionally; we do not. Syringing 
is of some service whilst the vines are what is termed 
breaking, that is, when the buds are bursting open; 
it facilitates the bursting of the buds, and promotes 
size in the leaf, which latter circumstance is closely 
connected with size in the berry of this year, and the 
bunch of the succeeding year. But to continue to 
syringe vines after the berries are set, or, indeed, 
whilst they are setting, is certainly a most erroneous 
mode of procedure. In the first place the vine has 
such a copious elaboration to perform (which depends 
much, of course, on the perspiratory organs), that 
comparative dryness in the atmosphere is needed at 
most times. It is almost needless to add that this 
perspiration cannot take place so freely whilst the 
leaf is wet, or the atmosphere surcharged with vapour, 
as under a drier air, and, of course, a more free motion 
of this needful element. A study, indeed, of the cha¬ 
racter of the climates where the vine grows indi¬ 
genous in the highest perfection, will soon convince 
any one of the error of keeping the vine leaf fre¬ 
quently wetted. 
There is another view of the case, and that is the 
beauty of the berry, which is dependent not only on 
its size but on its colour, and that delightful bloom, 
as it is called, which adds so much to the beauty of 
this noble fruit. A well-coloured black Hamburgh 
grape, with a fine bloom, is a rival to the most 
chastely tinted plum; which is, indeed, no small re¬ 
commendation, for who does not admire the bloom 
of a fine purple plum? We would not, therefore, 
syringe a vine at all after blossoming commences, 
and not too much before that period. What is called 
“ breaking well,” is in the main dependent on more 
powerful agencies than syringing, viz., a powerful 
root action, together with slow breaking after well 
ripened wood of the preceding year has been tho¬ 
roughly rested: these are the grand principles on 
which the eye must be fixed; this the goal at which 
we must aim at arriving. These things secured, and 
a liberal ventilation pursued, all other matters about 
which so much fuss has been made may be fairly 
written down as subordinate. There are those, how¬ 
ever, who fancy they cannot subdue the red spider 
without syringing freely; we confess that lialf-a-score 
years ago such was our opinion. As before observed, 
since we adopted systematically the sulphur plan, 
which we have detailed, we have scarcely ever known 
a red spider to set foot in our houses, and the sy¬ 
ringing has of course fallen into disuse. 
Fumigation must be had recourse to occasionally, 
and this will suit the plants as well as the vines, 
provided it is done gently; our plan is to fumigate 
gently three days, or rather evenings, in succession. 
Some plants are very impatient of heavy fumigation; 
of such are the fuchsia family, the helitropes, and 
the mignonette ; and the best practice is to remove 
them while the operation is proceeding. 
During the first swelling of the grapes the plants 
on the stage ought to be kept very thin, for it is well 
to keep a somewhat closer atmosphere during this 
part of the process than we shall advise afterwards. 
An old frame or pit, therefore, might receive the 
weedings out of stock, and such as the hardier ericas, 
and plants in general, if not blooming; inferior or 
late geraniums, together with much young stock for 
succession, also may be placed here on ashes, and 
protected by double mats at night in severe weather. * 
R. Errington. 
THE ELOWER-GARDEN. 
Climbing and Pillar Roses. —In addition to the 
lists and description of roses suitable for bedding in¬ 
groups in beds, our fail’ correspondents desired a list 
Of climbing and pillar roses. Desirous always to 
comply with the wishes, and give every information 
within our power to all classes of our readers, we 
shall this week give a select list of really good roses 
for the purpose of covering unsightly walls, or the 
house of the amateur as well as of the more humble 
cottager. These roses are also very suitable to plant 
either against the arched, trellis-covered walk, or 
against pillars set up purposely to train them to, and 
show their lovely blossoms to the greatest advantage. 
We shall place them before our readers in their seve¬ 
ral classes or sections, so that the cultivator may 
choose such as will suit their situation and taste. 
Climbing Roses. — Boursault. This is quite a 
distinct section, very gorgeous, of rapid, vigorous 
growth, blooming in large clusters. To prune them 
rightly, thin out the branches severely, but do not 
shorten much those you leave. 
Amadis, or Crimson —Deep purplish crimson, large and semi¬ 
double, cup-shaped flowers. Blush, or De L’Isle —Blush, rose centre, 
very large and full, globular. Elegans —Crimson-purple, streaked 
with white, showy, globular shape. 
Ayrshire Roses. —These may be properly termed 
“running roses,” being of a free and rapid growth, 
will thrive in rough wild situations, such as rocky 
banks, or to climb up old or dead trees. For these 
purposes there are none to equal the Ayrshire varie- 
