318 £TATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Several very probable reasons appear to oflfer quick solution to this seeming 

 enigma. All insects are held in check by natural enemies. Were this not the 

 case, their astounding fecundity would soon banish all other life from the 

 globe. K^ow, remove any insect to a new region, and for a time it will be com- 

 paratively free from molestation. It will take time, — often long years, — to 

 develop enemies that will seek it out, and seriously interfere with its prosper- 

 ity. The Hessian fly, long known, yet little dreaded in Europe, was introduced 

 into America at the time of the revolution, and I need not to tell you of the 

 fearful havoc wrought by this tiny insect during the first years after its intro- 

 duction among us. With the increase of its enemies, some of which were very 

 like also imported, it has become powerless to excite our fear, or even anxiety. 

 The Rape butterfly, introduced from England in 1859, worked immense dam- 

 age at first, but recent reports say that a parasite bids fair to cut short its 

 terrible work of destruction, so that in all probability it will soon be no more 

 dreaded here than in the land of its nativity. 



So too of the Phylloxera, very likely it has enemies here, that lessens its 

 numbers and harm, whereas in France it works its destruction all undisturbed. 

 That time may develop its enemies abroad is probable, so that it would be safe 

 to predict that time would bring a diminution of the evil to our transatlantic 

 friends. 



Again Darwinism, or the doctrine of natural selection, would induce such 

 hardiness in our native varieties as would successfully resist the attack of such 

 constant foes. And in the struggle for life, only those varieties, or better 

 species would be preserved, which through some obnoxious flavor were free 

 from attack. Varieties too, which the skill of man had obtained from these 

 native species, would be more certain to resist the blighting effects of the root 

 form of the Phylloxera, and very likely this fact, together with man's selection 

 fromthesevariet.es, cultivating only the hardy ones, which probably owed this 

 desirable quality to some peculiarity which exempted them from these fatal 

 sappers, is probably what has freed us from one of the worst of the modern 

 pests of the pomologist. 



AEE WE IX DANGER? 



In view of the fact that the Phylloxera is an old resident among us, and that 

 grape-growing has been unattended with any serious calamity all these years, 

 I think it safe to predict that the vine-dresser may possess his soul in peace, 

 and work on with the best of hope and courage, and all well seasoned with 

 gratitude that, partly through the aid of natural enemies of the Phylloxera 

 vastatrix, and partly because of hardy varieties, he is saved from a scourge that 

 seems to know no moderation in its withering work, which, if unchecked, bids 

 fair to ruin the vintage of the long famous " vine-clad hills of Europe." Should 

 the lona, Catawba and Delaware prove unprofitable because of this pestiferous 

 louse, we can try what is now being extensively tried in Europe — graft them 

 on to such stocks as the Oporto, Concord and Clinton, which resist so well. 

 Though this prac'"ice is regarded hopefully in Europe, and by many here, still 

 Mr. Addison Kelley, who has had some experience, has, he writes me, little 

 faith in its efficacy. I would earnestly urge such experiments on the islanda, 

 and at Point aux Peattx. [Since writing the above, I have visited Kelley's 

 •Island and witnessed the terrible havoc wrought by these lice to the Catawba, 

 Delaware and lona grapes, yet see no reason to doubt the beneficial eftects of 

 grafting these varieties on more hardy stocks.] Should this prove unsatisfac- 

 tory, either from failing to rid us of this pest or from producing grapes of 



