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estimate given to these wines in foreign countries. Most of the Amer- 
ican wines which have been specially recognized at foreign expositions 
have been the products of this class of grapes. But the ultimate value 
of these grapes will not be realized until vineyards of them are estab- 
lished in localities where they can be ripened. They require a longer 
warm season than suffices for varieties of the labrusca family; conse- 
quently they are not successfully grown in localities where the improved 
fox grapes are most largely cultivated, and for that reason the summer 
grapes are but little known; and in the localities where they may be pro- 
dueed in periection the culiure of wine grapes has not yet become an 
established industry. 
Among the best-known varieties of this eminently wine-producing 
species may be mentioned the Lenoir, Herbemont, Devereaux, Alvey, 
Cynthiana, and Norton’s Virginia Seedling. These varieties yield wines 
ot very high excellence and of varied qualities. But they can only be 
grown to periection in certain elevated locations in the States of North 
Carolina, Virginia, and other States having similar climates. 
lt therefore appears probable that in the further improvement of hardy 
grapes these peculiarities of species, and the purposes for which they 
are best adapted, must receive more attention than has hitherto been 
given to them. 
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GARDENS. 199 
FORLIGN GRAPES. 
For the past two or three years the crop of fruit in the grapery has been 
more or less injured by a leaf-hopper insect, which is usually, but I believe 
erroneously, called “thrips.” These insects destroy the vitality of the 
leaves, causing them to become crisp and shriveled and to fall prema- 
turely. They increase rapidly, fly off in clouds when the leaves are dis- 
turbed, and are difficult to stibdue. The usual remedy for the destruc- 
tion of this notable pest is to fumigate the structure with tobacco smoke ; 
but in a large house it is no easy task to effectually destroy these in- 
sects by this means, as they drop down and find shelter under path- 
ways, &c., and become lively when the smoke has dispersed. Nightly 
fumigations continued for a week at a time only partially diminished 
their numbers, even when supplemented by daily syringings with water 
in which tobacco had been steeped. Finding this remedy ineffectual, 
without bestowing more time to it than the labor force of this division 
would warrant, it was resolved to try the effects of sprinkling the leaves 
with water in which quassia chips had been steeped. One pound of 
these chips, tied loosely in a bag, was placed in a barrel of water and 
allowed to stand for 48 hours. Before using it 50 per cent. of pure water 
was added to the decoction, which then tasted exceedingly bitter. The 
vines were syringed daily with this mixture, and it has been found a . 
much more effectual remedy than the former one of tobacco, and the 
insects have been kept fairly under subjection, although they have not 
been completely eradicated, and they increased to some extent after the 
quassia application had to be discontinued so as not to taste the fruit. A 
few applications of clean water should be given to remove all bitterness 
from the banches. 
It is well known that the main reason for cultivating the foreign 
grape under glass in this climate is on account of mildew. In former 
reports it has been shown that judicious care in ventilation, combined 
with a sufficiency of atmospheric humidity, will prevent the attacks of 
fungoid growths on the foliage of the vines. Practically, this treatment, 
so as to insure the entire prevention of mildew, is not always readily 
maintained. Occasionally it will happen that the temperatare of the 
