THE ANNUAL MEETING. 173 



-MR. peck's experience. 



This pest is getting to be in this neighborhood about equal, in tlie damage it 

 does, to the phylloxera in France and California vineyards, or the codling 

 moth among apple orchards here. None of the remedies I have tried seemed 

 to have any effect. I have doubtless scorched the wings of some with torches, 

 but instead of flying into the fire as they ought, they fly from it. The scent of 

 burnincf tar and tobacco under them seems not even to dissjust them. Drench- 

 ing with tobacco tea, lime and sulphur solution, dilute carbolic acid, and even 

 kerosene seems harmless to them. They are at their old haunts as soon as the 

 scent passes off. I have hung strong-smelling herbs on the grape-vines ; tansy, 

 cedar boughs and even stramonium in vain; have tried concussion as has been 

 recommended, by firing a gun under them, which simply astonished them. 



The consequence is that the leaves fall off and the fruit fails to color or 

 ripen, and where this occurs the vine is nearly or quite barren the next season. 

 They have a preference for varieties like the rest of us, preferring first the 

 Clinton and in the following order, Delaware, lona, Adirondac, and other 

 smooth-leaved varieties. Rogers' Hybrids, Catawba, Isabella, and others oj 

 large leaves and robust habits are better able to withstand this vital drain. 

 The Concord, Hartford, and Ives are less affected, probably on account of the 

 rough under surface of their leaves. What shall we do? Can any of the old 

 vineyardists or any of the readers of the Farmer tell us? I speak not in behalf 

 of myself alone, but also in behalf of my neighbors. 



From all the other ills to which the grape is heir we are nearly exempt, 

 "when we plant on suitable aspects, and we are encouraged to think our soil and 

 climate well adapted to this fruit. 



Some one in the audience asked about the natural history of the insect and 

 was answered by the following letter read by the Secretary from AY. Asa 

 Kowe, of Mason. 



NATURAL HISTORY OF THRIPS. 



The grape-vine leaf hopper, frequently miscalled the ^* grape-vine thrips," 

 belongs to the family Cicadellina, order Hemiptera. The noticeable character- 

 istics of the order Hemiptera are: (1st.) Their beak-like mouth parts, by 

 which they are enabled to pierce the skin of animals or the tissues of plants 

 and suck out the sap or blood upon which they live. (2d.) They have four 

 wings, and of these the first two are usually (at least at their base), opaque 

 and horny. (3d.) Their transformations are incomplete. The insect as it 

 grows changes neither in form or habit, the only change being that it usually 

 acquires wings when fully grown. The family of leaf hoppers have long legs, 

 especially fitted for jumping, and are very active. There are several species 

 which infest the grape-vine ; but the most common one is the true vine-hopper, 

 {Erytlironeum vitis). Probably the others do not vary much from this in 

 habits. The vine-hopper is a small, yellow insect, marked on the head and 

 thorax with bright red. The front wings also are red at the base, and have a 

 band of the same color across the middle, while the tips are black. The head 

 is triangular, and the body is pointed. They hibernate during the winter 

 under leaves, weeds, and other rubbish, near the grape-vines. As the weather 

 w^arms and the vines start into new^ life in the spring they come out and lay the 

 eggs for a new generation, so that the 3'oung are hatched and ready for busi- 

 ness about a« soon as the leaves are out for them to work on. They moult 



