DISEASES OF TEE VINE. 



461 



scarcity of moisture at the root, or extreme cold. In a word, by this 

 system of training the vine we lay the foundation of a vigorous old 

 age, and secure that soundness of constitution which is impossible under 

 the close-pruning or restrictive system. 



Fig. 345. 



Diseases and Pests of the Vine. Of these the most formidable is cer- 

 tainly the new disease which has recently played sad havoc among the 

 vineyards of the Continent, decimating them completely, and leaving 

 scores of acres entirely devoid of plants. This disease, which might 

 at first sight be mistaken for an attack of fungi, is found to originate 

 in a small insect so minute that it can only be discovered by the use of 

 the microscope, and then it may be seen in myriads. They attach 

 themselves to and live upon the root of the plant, from which they suck 

 every vestige of sap, until at last the plant is obliged to succumb from 

 exhaustion. All remedies which have been tried are found to be use- 

 less, except those which destroy the plants, and the only check upon 

 the progress of the pest appears to be a soil which contains more than 

 the usual proportion of salt, the plants being less liable to be attacked 

 upon such a soil than upon others. The only real remedy appears to 

 be the fire ; and the best plan is not only to burn the plants, but also 

 to subject the soil in which they have been growing to sufficient heat 

 to destroy animal life. 



Fortunately, this pest is not much known in this country, though 

 it is said to exist in one or two vineries. This report we hope is not 

 true; but if it is, then the pest ought to be stamped out at once, 

 whatever may be the sacrifice to be made in doing so. For a long 

 time the French vine-growers could not decide what the pest really 

 was, but at last M. Planchon obtained a clue, by which he determined 



