I. EFFECTIVE SPRAYING FOR THE GRAPE ROOT- 

 WORM. 



Fidia viticida Walsh. 



The grape root-worm continues to be a serious factor in grape- 

 growing in the famous Chautauqua grape lielt, although its ravages 

 were less noticeal)le and the vineyardists were usually not so much 

 alarmed during the past' year as in 1903. It is to be hoped that the 

 insect's life-pendulum has begun its expected downward swing into 

 obscurity as a pest, and there have been some indications to warrant 

 such a hope in the infested region. Favorable growing conditions 

 in 1904 have enabled many vineyards to make a very encouraging 

 showing of vine and fruit in spite of the root-worm. 



In 1903, this grape root-worm practically ruined some European 

 varieties in a grapery at Glen Cove, Long Island. This isolated out- 

 break doubtless has no connection with the widespread Chautauqua 

 infestation, but it is a hint that the insect is liable to become injurious 

 at any time in other grape-growing sections of New York. The root- 

 worm is the most destructive insect enemy of the grape in the State, 

 and all vineyardists should acquaint themselves with its character- 

 istics, habits and work. 



During the past three years this Station has carried on extensive 

 'field experiments in Chautauqua county against the grape root-worm. 

 Our discovery of the first appearance of this serious enemy of the vine 

 in New York was announced in 1900 in Bulletin No. 184, and the 

 results of a year's observations and extensive experiments were given 

 in Bulletin No. 208, issued in December, 1902. 



As the root-worm beetles eat the foliage of the grape in considerable 

 quantities and feed openh' on the upper sides of the leaves for two 

 weeks or more, theoretically, it should be an easy matter to feed 

 them poison with a spray pump. In 1902, we made extensive ex- 

 periments on about 15 acres of vineyards with an arsenate of lead 

 spray, the details of which are given in Bulletin No. 208, pages 189- 

 191. The abnormal rainy season then interfered so much with our 

 experiments that it was impossible to draw any definite conclusions 

 either way. Although discouraged, we were not convinced of the 

 futility of a poison spray as an effective method of fighting this insect. 



Experiments in 1903. — In 1903, Mr. John W. Spencer co-operated 

 with us in making a further test of a poison spray for the beetles 

 working on the leaves. As a criterion for determinin_g the results of 



