TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1903, Page 8

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Grape Vine. — A.G. — Cut o£f all last year's laterals (young shoots) back to one eye, excepting in the case of any occasional long strong one, which reduce to the lifth oi - oighth eye, in accordance with its strength. Do this immediately. When growth commences, keep at a temperature of 57 degrees by night and 60 to 68 by day. Damp tlie floors frequently, and -when bloom shows pinch each shoot back at the second leaf beyond the truss. See future suggestions. Mealy Bug on Vines. — B.R. — It would be impossible for me to tell you how the mealy bug got introduced into your vines, but the want of attention is the cause of it spreading so much. It would lie difficult- to get thoroughiy rid of it now, though by careful manipulation many may be picked out of the bunches with a stick. After pruning, apply a strong dressing to the canes, thoroughly clean out the house by scraping off all the surface soils, give a good scrubbing with soap and water to all the wood and glass work, and the following spring constant watchfulness so that whenever any appears have them killed at once by fumigating. It is no use cutting down your canes to the ground; you would simply lose all the fruit for two years, and perhaps not get rid of the enemy. Attention is your only remedy.