GRAPE ROOT-WORM INVESTIGATIONS IN 1907. 63 



Tho true sig;nificance of these fi<>:ure.s, however, is not realized 

 unless we take into consideration that there are now nearly 10.000 

 acres more of bearing vineyard than there weie in 1!)00, which should 

 of themselves produce nearly 1,800 carloads of fruit. 



An analysis of the 190T crop report brings out forcibly the deterio- 

 ration of the old established vineyards. In the three townships of 

 Portland. "Westfield, and Ripley, in which there has been much less 

 new planting than in the townships at either the eastern or western 

 extremities of the grape belt, and which therefore come nearer to giv- 

 ing the true decline of old vineyards, there was a decrease of 585 car- 

 loads of grapes below the crop for 11)0(). Placing the value of grapes 

 at $25 per ton, the lowest price paid for grapes in 1907, there was a 

 shrinkage in value approaching $175,000 in these three townships. 

 "While some of this decline in production may be due to depletion of 

 soil, lack of proper cultivation, and adverse weather conditions, yet 

 many vineyardists who are careful observers are now convinced that 

 a high percentage of this loss is due directly to the ravages of the 

 grape root-worm. 



It is a fact notorious to all vineyardists that wood production in 

 nearly all vineyards has greatly decreased. In the issue of the 

 "Chautauqua Grape Belt " for January 7, 1908, the statement is made, 

 in predicting a light crop for 1908. that in most vineyards the wood 

 growth is C)5 per cent of the normal wood growth of several years ago, 

 and in many vineyards is as low as 25 per cent. Extended observa- 

 tions during the past year convince the writer that this statement is 

 by no means exaggerated. 



It was because of the existence of such conditions as are described 

 above that the vineyardists of Xortli East. Pa., became alarmed for 

 the future of their vineyards, and appealed to the Secretary of Agri- 

 culture for assistance. In compliance with this request investiga- 

 tions were commenced l)v the Bureau of Entomology' in the spring of 

 1907. 



WORK UNDERTAKEN AT NORTH EAST', PA. 



The main features of the work against the grape root-worm at 

 North East, Pa., during the past summer have been: (1) A close 

 study of vinej'ard conditions to determine the amount of injury for 

 which this insect is responsible, and the amount of injury done to 

 vines of various ages; (2) the ccmducting of large-scale spraying 

 experiments in vineyards but recently infested, with a view to fur- 

 nishing protection from the insect and maintaining the present stand- 

 ard of crop production; (3) beginning large-scale experiments to 

 determine the possibility of bringing badly injured vineyards up to 

 a state of ])rofitable production, and to ascertain the best means of 

 furnishing protection to young vineyards just coming into bearing. 



