INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE VINE. 325 



To destroy the Becmares, the Coupe-hour (^ eons, the Rhynchites 

 Bacchus and Betuleti and Kumolpus Vitis, it is necessary to use 

 other means. 



The best plan seems to be — taking care to choose a time 

 for the operation when the insects undergo transformation and 

 the sexes unite — to place under each vine a kind of basket, 

 made for the purpose, of a somewhat circular form, in such a 

 way that it will go all round the bottom of the vine, and then 

 ■to shake the branches ; this will cause all the insects to fall 

 into it. It has been proposed by some to substitute for the 

 basket a capacious tin funnel, with a bag attached to the 

 smaller end, for the insects to drop into. 



The same method may be advantageously employed against 

 the caterpillars of the moths which injure the vine, especially 

 when they have attained a considerable size ; though, indeed, 

 by that time they have well nigh completed the work of 

 devastation, the leaves being half eaten and completely 

 ■withered ; yet by destroying them in this state some check is 

 given to their increase in future years. 



In connexion with this, another plan may be mentioned, 

 which is particularly adapted for the destruction of the Pyralis 

 of the vine, and the Procris Ampelophaga of Passerini, and 

 generally to that of all the small moths which attack the vine : 

 it is to make fires at night-fall, in the opposite direction to the 

 wind ; when the insects come in crowds to the flame, and are 

 destroyed. These fires should be kept up for ten or twelve 

 nights running, except when there is much wind or rain, as, 

 besides other objections, in such weather the moths will not 

 fly, but remain on the leaves. 



The most efficacious way of destroying all the various kinds 

 of Lepidopterous and Coleopterous larvae that infest the vine, 

 is to pick off the curled-up leaves in which the eggs have been 

 deposited, and to throw the leaves into an oven and burn them. 

 This method necessarily occupies a good deal of time, and is 

 much the most expensive, but it is also, after all, the most 

 certain ; — I have seen it practised with much care and patience 

 in Nassau, amongst the cultivators on the banks of the Rhine. 



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NO. IV. VOL. IV. U U 



