9 
as the Delaware, are almost as defenseless as European vines. Of 
the many wild American vines, those of chief importance as sources 
of stocks are the Atstivalis, Riparia, and Labrusca. Of these, Aésti- 
valis and its cultivated varieties rank first in resistant qualities. 
The varieties of this species commonly grown and used for stocks 
are Herbemont and Cunningham. These are also very valuable on 
account of the superior quality of their own fruit. 
The wild varieties of Riparia are quite resistant to the root louse, 
although the most subject of all vines to the attacks of the leaf-gall 
lice. Of the cultivated varieties, the Clinton, Taylor, Solonis, ete., are 
very commonly used as stocks. The fox grapes, derived from Vitis 
labrusca, while more resistant than European grapes, are much infe- 
rior to the other American species mentioned in this respect. Isabella 
and Catawba, for example, are very subject to root lice; the Concord, 
while not often seriously injured, is still rather subject to attack and 
therefore not so valuable as a source of resistant stocks. There are 
many hybrids of these and other American species, which are used 
either direct for their fruit or as stocks. Conditions of climate and 
soil will determine the particular variety to be employed, and these 
points can only be settled by experimental tests for new localities. 
THE GRAPEVINE FIDIA. 
(Fidia viticida Walsh.) 
During midsummer the leaves of grapes are frequently riddled with 
irregular holes by the attacks of a little beetle which, when disturbed, 
falls to the ground with its legs folded up against its body, feigning 
death or ‘‘ playing possum.” The beetle is about a quarter of an inch 
long, rather robust, and of a brown color, somewhat whitened by a 
dense covering of yellowish-white hairs. In the nature and amount 
of the injury it does at this stage it resembles the rose-chafer, for which 
it is sometimes mistaken. Following the injury to the foliage, the 
vines may be expected, if the beetles have been abundant, to present 
a sickly appearance, with checking of growth and ultimate death, due 
to the feeding on the roots of the larvee, for, as in the case of the phyl- 
loxera, the root injury is much more serious than the injury to foliage. 
Vines sometimes die after having developed half their leaves, or may 
survive until the fruit is nearly mature. 
This insect occurs very generally in the Mississippi Valley States, 
from Dakota to Texas, and more rarely east of the Alleghanies and 
southward to Florida. The beetle has caused serious damage to foli- 
age, notably in Missouri, Illinois, and Ohio, having been recognized 
over thirty years ago in the first-mentioned State as one of the worst 
enemies of the grape. The work of the larve has been recognized only 
recently by Mr. Webster and others in northern Ohio, but it may be 
looked for wherever the beetle occurs. 
