)i42 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



ubiquitous pest. It is characteristic of sotue borers — especially tlic larvae of 

 various beetles — and of some two-winged flies, to attack the dead or dying tree 

 or plant. Not so, I think, with any other of our insect pests. We must con- 

 clude then, that the Phylloxera comes not as the secjuence of disease, but as the 

 terrible cause of one of our worst plant maladies. To be sure, some high in 

 position argue that fungus weakens the vines, and then the lice come because 

 the vines arc devitalized. Yet we all know that fungi as a rule attack the 

 feeble, which is not true of lice. I believe the argunient has little to sup- 

 port it. 



Is the case hopeless? I think not. 



1st. There have been Phylloxera in our country for years, ami yet grape-grow- 

 ing has been almost a constant success. 



2d. In 1875, I found Phylloxera at Monroe, and the island vineyards of Lake 

 Eric. Yet there has been, as I learn, no rot at Monroe, and at the island vine- 

 yards the experience has not been such as to discourage the vineyardists. Even 

 this very year I am informed tliat the vineyards are being enlarged on several 

 of the islands. 



3d. None of our insect foes are equally bad every year. The fact that 

 Phylloxera and the attendant evil black-rot, have come with terrible severity 

 this year, does not argue that the same will be true next year, or in fact any 

 year of the future. It would seem that most varieties of our grapes (lona, 

 Isabella, and perhaps Catawba may be exceptions) will thrive even -when 

 attacked by the Phylloxera vastatrix, except that a very wet year, poor drain- 

 age, large amount of wood, excessive bearing, each or all, may so reduce the 

 strength of the vines, that they are unable to stand the root-pruning, at the 

 hands or rather beak of the Phylloxera. 



4th. By knowing fully the character and habits of the pest, wo may hope to 

 do much to mitigate the evil, if we may not exterminate it. Eor among our 

 insect-enemies as elsewhere, he that has knowledge, will also possess power. 



^VIIAT TO DO. 



\Vc should take the i)resence, or prospective presence, of the Phylloxera as 

 an unwelcome fact, and keep this in view in all our vineyard management. 

 The vino grower should frequently examine the fibrous roots of the different 

 varieties of his vines, and if he sees the knots, a sure evidence that the Phyl- 

 loxera are with him, then he should be more than ever careful, to sustain the 

 vigor of his vines. 



In France, where the Phylloxera has been most studied, it has been found 

 that flooding the ground of the vineyard for four or five weeks during the 

 resting period of the vines, is most etlicacious. Then is it not possible — aye 

 probable — that by plowing from our vines in fall, so that the vines shall stand 

 in a furrow during fall and spring, and thus be surrounded by water for a 

 portion of the time, as would be very apt to be the case, especially on stiif. imper- 

 vious soils, wc might destroy the lice? Mr. Kellcy has tried this enough to be- 

 lieve it at least a partial cure, and has left furrows in lino of his vines throughout 

 much of his viricyard, the present season. This is certainly worthy a thor- 

 ough trial, especially on such impervious soils as at Grosse Isle, Monroe, and 

 the island vineyards. The furrows might receive coarse manure, to protect the 

 vines from severe cold, as the water would still stand about the crown of the 

 vine and follow the roots to their extremities. 



Again, as we prune heavily and forbid excessive if not all fruiting when we of 



