I. AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY. 3*71 



do not exist in the vineyards of the south of France. There 

 the insect is born, lives, multiplies, and dies, exclusively upon 

 the roots of the vine. The second method is also of little 

 account, since a vine may be seriously affected without show- 

 ing any external symptoms, these manifesting themselves si- 

 multaneously over the entire vineyard, and involving the de- 

 struction of the whole. The use of poisonous substances, also, 

 has given few results of any value, especially as it is only the 

 superficial rootlets that can be reached, while the more deep- 

 ly seated can not be influenced. The fourth method, of graft- 

 ing on the American grape, is one the success of which is 

 problematical ; and although, so far, there seems to be a great- 

 er power of resistance in this species than in others, there is 

 no telling how soon this variety may cease to possess com- 

 parative immunity. 



In view of all these circumstances, M. Faucon has recom- 

 mended very urgently the propriety of so planting the vine- 

 yards as to permit them to be inundated during the winter 

 season, just as is done in the case of cranberry patches. He 

 has tried this experiment on a very large scale during the 

 past winter of 1870-'71, and has found the most gratifying re- 

 sult. Plants which had been seriously attacked, and which 

 were on the point of being torn up and burned, were found 

 in the ensuing spring to have recovered their vigor, and a 

 careful examination failed to reveal the slightest traces of the 

 destructive enemy. This application can only be made, how- 

 ever, to vineyards having a level surface and suitably ar- 

 ranged for the purpose. But M. Faucon is of the opinion 

 that only such vineyards as can be treated in this manner 

 can be maintained, and that all which are situated on the 

 slopes of hills must be given up, unless some special arrange- 

 ments can be made for the purpose of overflowing the roots 

 of the vines. Revue Ilortieole, November 1,1871,553. 



DISTINGUISHING EDIBLE MUSHROOMS. 



A writer in the English Mechanic gives what he considers 

 to be an invaluable rule for distinguishing the true mush- 

 rooms from the poisonous species. He remarks, in the first 

 place, that the true mushroom is invariably found in rich, 

 open pastures, and never on or about stumps or in woods; 

 and, although a wholesome species sometimes occurs in the 



