28 



INSECTS IN THE NATIVE GRAPES. 



underneath all my gooseberry plants to the 

 depth of six inches, and in some cases to 

 the depth of a foot. In the latter instances 

 it had to be crowded down to make room 

 for the branches; and, when the rains 

 caused it to settle, it lay almost close to the 

 branches. Of course, all this was done 

 after pruning the gooseberry bushes, and 

 before the fruit had yet attained srfficient 

 size to be attacked by the mildew. 



The experiment has proved quite suc- 

 cessful. This year, for the first time in my 

 remembrance, I have a very fine crop of 

 large clean gooseberries, now nearly full 

 grown, and not the least symptom of mil- 

 dew. Those plants are most thrifty, and 



have the finest fruit, which had the sea- 

 weed put in thick layers under them, so 

 that the branches, in fact, rest upon the 

 sea-weed. The fruit is then kept quite 

 cool, and the dew remains a long time in 

 the day. In consequence of this, the roots 

 do not feel the changes of temperature, and 

 the growth and swelling of the berry is not 

 checked. 



If this reasoning is correct, persons in 

 the interior need not be at a loss, for refuse 

 hay or straw would probably answer the 

 purpose. On the prairie, where hay is so 

 abundant, it may be freely used for this 

 purpose. Eespectfully. R. H. T. 



Delaware, July, 1848. 



TWO INSECTS THAT INFEST THE NATIVE GRAPES. 



BY C, NEW-YORK. 



Dear Sik — Every few years there appears 

 some new insect enemy to the cultivator, 

 that requires all his ingenuity and vigilance 

 to prevent its destroying all the value of 

 his labors. Little by little these pests 

 spread over the whole country ; their pro- 

 gress often being aided rather than pre- 

 vented by careless cultivators, who allow 

 them to have quiet and undisturbed posses- 

 sion of the garden or orchard under their 

 care. 



Two sorts of insects, that have made 

 their appearance during the last two sea- 

 sons on the hardy grapes — Isabella, Cataw- 

 ba, &c., now so generally cultivated in va- 

 rious parts of the country, come under this 

 head of nuisances. 



I am not familiar with the scientific 

 names of these insects. They are, how- 

 ever, easily recognized by a brief descrip- 

 tion. One — the most troublesome — is, I 

 think, a large sort of thrip or aphis, some- 



what resembling the common aphis, or 

 green Jly oi the rose bushes, but a great 

 deal larger, and of a pale ash or grey-green 

 colour. This insect is found on the under 

 sides of the foliage, where it multiplies 

 rapidly, and soon peoples the whole vine. 

 Its effects are quickly perceived on the 

 foliage, which puts on a gray, mottled and 

 dingy colour, — its juices being sucked up 

 by this species of thrip. 



Vegetable physiologists would tell u^ be- 

 forehand that this robbery of the juices and 

 green colouring matter of the leaf must 

 impair the health and vigor of the vine. 

 And plain gardeners that have had to do 

 with this new insect, can testify from their 

 own observation how much it impairs the 

 health of the grape vine, and lessens the 

 size and flavor of its fruit. 



The other insect enemy is a species of 

 small black slug, that also makes its ap- 

 pearance on the under side of the vine 



