94 THE BOOK OF THE GRAPE 



experiments with a view to destroying the insect without 

 at the same time injuring the vines, I arrived at the con- 

 clusion that any fluid which is strong enough to kill the 

 insect on the roots in its rapid passage through the soil 

 will also kill the vines operated on. I am also convinced 

 that where vine borders can be submerged for five or six 

 days at the end of July, and again a fortnight later when 

 the Phylloxera is in full activity, and by repeating the 

 flooding process after an interval of a fortnight, the 

 brood which came into active existence immediately after 

 the vine borders were first flooded, will also be exter- 

 minated. Of course the submerging cure only applies to 

 vines whose roots only are infested with the Phylloxera. 

 If the leaves also are affected by the pest, the flooding 

 would not, as a matter of course, affect them. It is 

 much better, where the flooding of the borders cannot 

 be done at the time and for the period indicated, and 

 there is no Phylloxera on the vines above ground, 

 to adopt the "stamping-out" process that is, as soon 

 as the grapes are cut, to root out the vines, remove the 

 soil down to the drainage, scrub and wash the brickwork 

 two or three times with hot lime, thoroughly wash the 

 glass and woodwork, and then paint the latter, after- 

 wards strewing one inch of coarse salt over the drain- 

 age so as to reach any affected roots concealed therein. 

 In the following year assuming the vines operated on 

 to be late bearing varieties make a fresh border or sec- 

 tion of a border in the manner recommended under the 

 heading of " When and how to make a Vine Border," 

 and plant therein fresh clean vines, obtained from some- 

 one having a reputation for sending out perfectly clean 

 vines, true to name, planting in the manner advocated 

 under the heading of " How and when to Plant Vines." 

 Rust on Grapes. I do not look upon rust on grapes as 

 being a disease, though it is so termed by some authorities 

 the grape. It is purely and simply the result of care- 



