_Characteristics._--Red or yellow mites are quite frequently injurious
to grapevines. These mites are small, almost microscopical, and appear
in enormous quantities on both sides of the leaves, especially, however,
on their under side. They cover the leaves, and even the ground of the
vineyard, with a thick cobweb, in which they live and hatch. Dry air and
heat promote the wellbeing of the mites, and hasten the injury they do
to the vine leaves, which soon dry up and check the growth of the vines.
On the contrary, dew and moisture destroy the red mites in a short time,
and in places near the coast they are seldom very injurious.
_Remedies._--Sprays of various kinds, such as whale-oil soap, resin
sprays, etc., have been used. Frequent spraying with pure water will
destroy the mites, but they will multiply again if the climate is
favorable. The best success is had with a spray of a compound known as
the I X L compound, which is used in the proportion of five pounds of
the compound to thirty gallons of water. One good spray will destroy
both the mites and their eggs.