OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 79 



'first of all, ;i vine stock which is Phylloxora-proof. The Clinton cotncs as near beino: 

 so as the other varieties mentioned, and its tendency to sprout vv ill prove no obstacle 

 to such careful cultivators as the French, if it only fulfills tiie otlier want; while its 

 <ireater susceptibility to the leaf-galls will be of comparatively trifling moment if grown 

 for its own fruit, (see ante p. ;56), and, of course, no objection at all if used only as stock. 

 The Rentz is very highly spoken of by Mr. E. A. Kiehl of Alton, and by Mr. liush, .as 

 one of our most promising N. A. varieties. I have yet iiad no opportunity of studying 

 •it in connection with Phylloxera, but as, according to Mr. Bush, it makes luxuriant roots, 

 it doubtless enjoys the immunity belonging to a certain group of its species, Labrusca. 



.lust as these pages are going through the press, a fact comes to light through a 

 •communication by Prof Planchon to the Messager du Midi (Apr. 21, 1874) which greatly 

 strengthens the hope that the most satisfactory results will follow the introduction into 

 France of our resisting vines. It appears that on a piece of land adjoining the town of 

 Roquemaure, and in the very locality on the banks of the Rhone, forming one of the 

 •centers where, as has been clearly ascertained, the Phylloxera made its first appearance 

 nine years ago, M. Borty, a wine merchant of the place, and owner of a fine vineyard, 

 finding that his French vines were suffering from Oidium, and under the impression 

 that American vines did not suffer from that fungus, imported 154 specimens of the 

 latter about the year 1862. Most of these vines, after so long a trial, are not only liv- 

 nig, but luxuriant and full of vigor ; and indicate a resistance to the insect in singular 

 contrast to the French vines in the same enclosure. Of these last most have beenkilled 

 by the Phylloxeni, while a few barely survive. Of the nature of tlie resisting Ameri- 

 •can VHies. Prof. Planchon, who, at the instance of the publisher of the journal above 

 mentioned, personally visited ihem, in company with members of the Agricultural Soci- 

 ety of Vaucluse, recognized with certainty the Clinton, and some of the others were 

 received under the names of " Post-Oak, " " Ives Seedling, " " Clara, " etc. But a most 

 interesting feature of this experience, which has remained so long unknown and unpub- 

 lished, is that the Delaware and the Isabella have both been uprooted because of the 

 manner in which they suftered from Phylloxera. 



This experience gives every assurance that our American vines which resist the 

 ■disease at home will retain the same power when grown on the other side of the At- 

 lantic. 



Regarding the experience in grafting in this country, there are many published 

 facts like that recorded of Mr. P. IMannj- of Freeport, Ills., who, finding that his Dela- 

 w^are, lona and Salem vines lost their lower roots [doubtless by Phylloxei'a], remedied 

 the matter by grafting on to Clinton (Rep. 4, p. 71, note) ; but I shall here record only 

 such facts bearing on the subject as have come to my knowledge, and are yet unpub- 

 ilished. 



In the herbarium of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Science, Prof. Planchon 

 •and myself found a specimen, evidentl^^ of the European vinifera, and so labeled, with 

 ■the following note, probably from the pen of Mr. Buckley, well known to botanists for 

 his studies of our grape-vines : " No. 79, Black Sweet Grape ; Introduced. Flourishes 

 finely when engrafted on a Mustang Stock. I have known it when engrafted on a strong 

 Mustang favorably situated, to produce ten bushels of grapes the fourth year. Will 

 not thrive on its own roots ivlthout a great deal of careful nursing. Blooms in April ; ripe 

 in August." 



Though proving nothing definite, the following result of grafting, made at my 

 request by N. DeWyl of Jefferson City, will yet have some interest. The grafts were 

 made in the spring of 1872 : 



Catawba on Clinton — Good growth ; healthy, with no galls on leaves and few lice 

 <on roots. Catawba on Concord — Good healthy growth ; more vigorous than on its own 



