JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  15,  1809. 
49 -J 
CO.Air>ATING  RED  SPIDER  IX  A^INERIES. 
liED  spuier  is  wiihout  doubt  one  of  the  most  troublesome  insect 
jiosts  which  Graiie  growers  have  to  contend  against,  and  if  no  such 
insect  existed  well-coloured  Grapes  would  be  more  common  than  they 
are  at  the  present  time.  How  often  may  we  meet  with  a  house  in 
which  the  X'lnes  look  extremely  promising  up  to  a  certain  stage, 
then  red  spider  puts  in  an  appearance,  and  through  failure  to  check 
it  in  time,  the  berries  neither  swell  to  their  lull  size  nor  colour 
perfectly.  I’hose  who  have  under  their  charge  Vines  which  are 
trained  2  or  3  feet  from  the  glass  ought  not  to  have  much  difficulty 
in  combating  this  enemy,  iirovided  the  Vines  are  in  a  r-atislactoiy 
condition  at  the  roots,  and  that  their  general  treatment  is  sound. 
Water  nuist,  of  course,  be  given  in  abundance  when  needrd,  also  high 
feedincr  practised,  and  I  opine  that  when  these  conditions  are  found 
in  combination  red  s|iidcr  is  not  much  dreaded. 
rnfortnnately  there  are  many  cultivators  not  so  ffivourably  circum¬ 
stanced.  They  have  to  do  the  best  they  can  with  Vims  trained  so 
clo.se  to  the  glass  that  the  leaves  touch  it  ;  in  each  instance  a' tacks  ot 
red  spider  are  inevitable,  and  the  order  of  the  day  should  he  to  watch 
for  the  first  signs  o*  tlie  enemy  and  tdke  effective  measures  to  stamp 
it  out.  These  signs  may  olten  be  noticed  while  the  Giapes  are  being 
thinned,  and  the  common  practice  of  keeping  the  atmo.xphere  of  the 
house  very  dry  during  the  flowering  periud  favours  the  spread  of  red 
spider.  I  am  convinced  that  in  time  all  Grajie  growers  will  be  fully 
alive  to  the  fact  that  the  ancient  practice  of  maintaining  a  dry  atmo¬ 
sphere  at  thinning  time  is  one  of  the  greatest  mistakes  which  can  be 
made;  all  that  is  needed  is  to  have  the  atmosphere  fairly  dry  and 
buoyant  at  noon;  heavy  morning  and  alternoon  damiiings  of  the  house 
are  cf  the  greatest  advantage. 
As  the  woik  of  thinning  proceeds  a  sharp  look  out  should  be  kept 
for  insect-infested  leaves ;  when  such  arc  found  sponge  them 
thoroughly  with  a  wmatr  solution  of  softsoap  and  water.  It  is  an  easy 
matter  to  keep  a  tinfrd  re.ady  mixed  in  the  house,  and  a  little -tine 
spi  nt  in  combatinz  the  enemy  then  will  iirevent  much  anxiety,  and 
perhaps  hours  of  labour  at  a  later  stage. 
At  one  time  I  had  an  aveision  to  syringing  A'ines,  but  have  since 
found  the  beneficial  effects  of  the  practice  when  well  carried  out; 
and,  if  after  having  first  sponged  the  inIcSted  leaves,  I  find  the  pist 
still  spreads,  I  do  not  hesitate  to  svringe  thoroughly  at  closing  time 
during  bright  afternoons.  By  th's  simple  practice  alone  I  have 
frequently  complelely  mastered  reti  spider,  and  brought  the  haves  into 
a  thoroughly  healthy  condition  acain.  If  clean  .«o  t  water  is  used, 
and  care  taken  to  force  it  between  the  bunches,  the  berr’es  are  not 
marked  or  spotted  in  the  least.  Water  falling  from  the  leaves  on  to 
the  berries  never  seems  to  mark  them;  it  is  oidy  when  it  is  forci  d 
directly  on  to  the  bunches  from  the  syringe  that  the  bloom  gets  rubbed 
off.  A  delt  manipulator  of  the  syringe  can  easily  avoid  the  latter  eiror. 
I  never  like  to  resort  to  painting  the  hot-water  pipes  with  sulphur, 
and  then  heating  the  water  to  boiling  point,  as  it  entirely  takes  away 
the  freshness  of  the  letves.  leaving  the  edges  ot  them  rusty,  and 
impairs  the  colouring  of  the  Grapes.  I  am  well  aware  that  the 
plan  is  regularly  practised  in  many  large  Grape-growing  cetabl  sh- 
ments,  and  gooei  as  they  produce  sent  out  from  such  jilaces  is,  I  am 
inclined  to  think  the  “  finish  ”  would  often  be  better  were  this  method 
of  killing  red  spider  not'  followed.  There  is  really  no  necessity  to 
take  such  drastic  measures  now,  even  in  the  c.ase  of  a  bad  attack,  for 
fumigating  with  XL  All  vaporiser  will  kill  the  enemy  quite  as  well. 
A  strong  dose  must,  however,  be  given,  and  in  hou>es  contaii  ing 
iMuscats  it  is  not  safe,  as  the  tender  foliage  of  that  variety  is  easily 
injured.  A  fuming  sufficiently  strong  to  be  effectual  seems  to  di.strtss 
though  not  mark  the  foliage  of  other  varieties,  and  except  in  the  case 
of  a  bad  attack,  in  whieh  all  other  remedies  failed,  I  like  if  possible  to 
manage  wiihout  fumigating,  but,  nevertheles.s,  XL  All,  1  am  bound 
to  admit,  is  the  best  remedy  I  have  yet  tried  lor  a  desperate  case. 
Other  aids  towards  aecomplishing  the  objects  in  view  are  the 
following  :  Pay  especial  attention  to  early  ventilation,  so  as  to  prevent 
the  temperature  of  the  hou-e  from  rising  rapidly,  a  condition  extremely 
trying  tor  leaves  near  the  glass.  By  admitting  ihe  cool  early  morning 
air  the  leaves  seem  to  be  invigorated  for  withstanding  the  heat  of  the, 
hottest  day,  and  the  temperature  of  the  house  is  easily  kept  down  to  a 
desiial  le  jioint.  Also  encourage  lateral  growth,  which  will,  by 
increased  root  action,  aid  in  the  case  of  black  Grapes  approaching  the 
colouring  stage,  training  in  between  and  under  the  main  leaves  every 
lateral  that  is  formed.  Although,  contrary  to  advice  usually  given,  I 
have  proved  to  my  own  .-atisfaction  that  such  additional  growth, 
although  it  may  not  be  fully  exposed  to  light,  is  beneficial  to  the 
general  health  of  the  Vines  at  that  stage,  and  Black  Hamburgh  Grapes 
invariably  colour  better  under  a  heavy  than  a  thin  canopy  of  lolia-e. 
Waur  at  tfe  roots  must,  of  course,  also  play  an  important  part 
in  combating  red  spider;  when  the  l;order  is  approaching  dryness, 
give  copiously  rich  brown  drainings  from  stables  or  cowsheds,  and 
do  net  nezlect  to  mulch  the  border  with  short  cow  or  stable  manure. 
— 11.  Hunkix. 
“WOOD  AND  GARDEN.”* 
I'nosK  who  look  upon  gardening  as  something  more  than  a  meat  s 
of  earning  a  livelihood  will  thank  IMnss  ..'ekyll  for  giving  us  in  this 
chaiming  book  the  results  of  her  fhonght,  observation,  and  practice 
for  nearly  thirty  years.  It  cinnot  be  said  that  the  plan  of  the  b  lok  is 
entirely  new;  for  others,  known  to  readers  of  garden  literature,  have 
preceded  Miss  Jekyll  in  a  somewl  at  similar  method.  A’et  her  book 
is  no  imitation,  but  is  full  of  freshness  and  originality.  Even  had  the 
work  not  had  on  its  title-page  the  name  of  one  known  by  reputation  to 
all  British  garden  lovers,  the  introduction  with  which  it  opens  would 
be  a  sufficient  passport,  an  i  w'ould  by  its  manner  and  matter  induce  a 
perusal  of  what  follow.  This  is  a  series  of  twelve  chapters  upon  the 
months,  with  their  trees  and  flowers,  and  several  others  treating  of 
such  subjects  as  “  Large  and  Small  Gardens,”  “The  I’lower  Border 
and  Pergola,”  “  The  Primrose  Garden,”  &c. 
The  master-spirit  of  the  bonk  may  be  learned  from  the  introduction. 
It  shows  itself  in  various  ways,  but  through  all  these  runs  ihe  desire 
expressed  in  the  following  words ;  “  The  les.son  I  have  thoroughly 
learnt,  and  wish  to  pass  on  to  others,  is  to  know  the  enduring  happi¬ 
ness  that  the  love  of  a  garden  gives.’’  Whether  the  authoress 
emulates  Jefferies  in  her  word-pictures,  speaks  of  her  garden  methods, 
di-cusses  colours  and  their  arrangement,  or  the  vexed  questions  involved 
in  the  relations  of  mister  and  man,  this  wish  is  plaitdy  evident. 
Critical,  too,  as  IMiss  Jin- yll  can  be — the  views  she  holds  regarding 
flower  shows  tell  as  much — her  notes  of  criticism  are  softened  by  that 
toleration  which  shows  itself  in  the'  woids  with  which  a  pas-age 
referring  to  the  various  styles  of  girdening  is  chifed  :  “And  all  are  right 
and  reasonable  and  eij  'vab'eto  their  owners,  and  in  s'bme  way  or 
degree  helpful  to  others.”  Xot  everyone  will  admit  as  much. 
“Wood  and  Garden”  is  not  a  book  wbigh  can  be  taken  up,  read 
through  hurriedly,  and  then  put  away.  There  .  are,  passages  which 
show  us  that  had  Miss  Jekyll  cared  to  coniine  hersdf  to  the  pnrelyr 
picturesque  or  “  vvord-paintii  g  ”  aspect  of  her  subject,  she  would  have 
given  us  a  book  which  would  have  been  as  highly  appreciated  by 
many  as  the  present  one  will  be.  It  might,  and  probably  would,  have 
bei-n  less  useful,  and  could  not  have  fulfilled  the  aim  ( xpre.ssed  in  the 
words  quoted  from  the  imrodiiction.  It  would,  however,  have  given 
delight  to  the  many  who,  relishing  what  is  provided,  eagerly  wish  for 
nio.e. 
To  illustrate  this,  had  it  not  been  for  the  length  of  Ihe  quotation 
required  to  do  it  jiist'c  •,  we  m'ght  have  quotnd  a  passaco  ffioin  the 
chajiter  on  “  Jannapy.”  It  describes  the  woodland,  with  its  “  warm 
carpet  of  pale,  rusty  Fern,”  its  “colour  harmonies  of  grey  b  ok  and 
silver-grey  Lichi-n,  *  niv  varied  by  the.  warm,  feaiheiy  masses  of  Birch 
spray.”  And  how  well  we  are  told  of  the  “sombrelv  cheerful”  Holly, 
and  the  “silver-barked  Birches,”  Many  equally  beautiful  descriptions 
occur,  ,  We  must  ever  think  gratelully  of  the  Nut  wa  k  at  Munstead 
for  being  the  means  of  giving  us  in  the  same  c^’apter  a  delightful 
account  of  a  visit  paid  by  the  authoress  to  the 'C"bnut  nnr.sery  at 
Calcot,  near  R- ading.  It  is  remarkably  well  written,  and  it  will 
not  do  to  spoil  the  picturesque  scene  by  a  partial  quotation.  No  one 
is  likely  to  forget  readily  Miss  Jekjll’s  ])icture  of  the  quaint  nur.oery, 
with  its  tender-leaved  Nut  trees  in  their  earliest  greenerv  ;  the  great 
chaini'd  mastiffs;  the  “brawny  wholesome  forewoman,”  and  Mr. 
Webb,  its  trim  old  master.  _ 
It  may  be  noted,  too,  as  worthy  of  special  remembrance,  the 
mention  of  the  blooming  of  Ldium  giganteum,  and  the  de.-cription  of 
the  plant  and  its  flowers.  Only  an  enthusiast  who  knew  tins  giant 
Lily  well  could  have  written  of  it  thus: — “In  the  evening  the  scent 
seems  to  pour  out  of  the  great  white  trumpets,  and  is  almost  over¬ 
powering,  but  gaius  a  delicate  quality  by  passing  through  the  air, 
and  at  50  yards  aw’ay  is  like  a  faint  waft  of  incense.  In  the  evening 
light,  when  the  sun  is  down,  the  great  heads  of  white  flower  have  a 
mysterious  and  impressive  effect  when  seen  at  some  distance  through 
the  wood,  and  by  moonlight  have  a  strangely  weird  dignity.” 
A  pleasant  and,  w'hat  is  more,  an  extremely  useful  chapter  on 
“June”  is  largely  devo'ed  to  Roses.  Perhaps  it  is  only  those  of  us 
who  dwell  in  the  country  who  can  enter  inio  the  spirit  with  which 
the  authoress  begins  the  chapter.  “What  is  one  to  say  about  June — - 
the  time  of  perfect  young  summer,  the  fulfilment  ot  the  promhe  of 
the  earlier  months,  and  with  as  yet  no  sign  to  remind  one  that  its 
fresh  young  beau  y  wdll  ever  fade  ?  For  my  own  part,  I  wander  uji 
into  the  wood  and  say,  ‘June  is  here!  June  is  here  !  Thank  God 
for  lovely  June.’  ”  Haiipy  in  having  such  a  neighbour  is  Mrs.  Edgeler, 
whi'in  Miss  Jekyll  has  photographed  as  she  picket  her  a  bunch  of 
Poses  Irom  her  old  standard  bush  (.see  illustration,  fig.  109). 
*  “  Wood  and  Garden.”  London,  Longmans,  Green  &  Co.,  Paternotter  Row. 
