462 DISEASES OF THE VINE. 



it to be a new and extremely minute species of aphis, of a dirty yellow 

 colour, which attaches itself to the roots of the vines, and is the cause 

 of all the evil. To this insect the name of Phylloxera vastatrix has 

 been given. So far as its habits are at present ascertained, it appears 

 to attach itself to the roots. Only the young are to be found, says M. 

 Planchon, small in size, hidden away amongst the rootlets and crevices 

 in the bark. With the approach of spring they awaken up from their 

 semi-dormant condition, increase in size, and select their positions for 

 depositing their eggs. The roots are always the portions first attacked ; 

 the malady from thence spreads throughout the body of the plant. 

 For this pest there appears to be no remedy, mineral oils, gas tar, 

 ammoniacal applications, sulphur, quicklime, arsenious acid, having all 

 been equally unsuccessful. Let us, while we commiserate the fate of 

 our neighbours, hope we may never have to combat the enemy in this 

 country. 



Next to this pest, which we know only by report, we think the root 

 fungus is the most troublesome disease. A few years back we had 

 occasion to plant some vines for a gentleman who had provided himselt 

 with a quantity of the parings and raspings of horses' feet from the 

 shoeing-smith's shop. To such an article there did not appear to be 

 the slightest objection, and we used it in about the same proportion 

 that bone-dust would be used, taking care to incorporate it thoroughly 

 with the soil. The vines were planted late in the season, and made 

 tolerable growth. Being cut down at the autumn pruning, they started 

 into growth the following spring, progressed for a few weeks, and then 

 came to a standstill, drooping under bright light, until at last it was 

 clear something was wrong somewhere. An examination of the soil 

 revealed the fact that the border was full of fungi, and the roots of the 

 plants quite dead. Upon closer examination we found the fungus the 

 most plentiful where pieces of the "frog," or inner part of the hoof, 

 were lying, and from these it spread in a direct line through the soil. 

 So convinced were we of the cause of the failure, that we directly 

 removed the soil and made a new border. Last spring we found upon 

 another border that had been top-dressed with soil which contained 

 the parings a quantity of fungi, which spread very rapidly, though we 

 removed it, and sulphured and sooted the soil wherever it appeared. 

 However, upon examining the vines a few days back, we found that 

 wherever the fungus had shown itself the surface rootlets were destroyed, 

 quite black and dead; so that we have removed the soil with the 

 greatest care, dusting the old soil with lime, soot, and sulphur, and 

 replacing with fresh soil, to which soot and lime have been added. 

 When we begin to force we shall give a good soaking of lime and soot 

 water, and in that way we hope to conquer the pest. Until this 

 experience convinced us of our error, we had looked upon root fungi 

 as more terrible in theory than in practice ; but now we have reversed 

 our judgment, and find it a most formidable plague, which must be 

 guarded against at every point. Hence, we say again, avoid nostrums 

 in making vine borders, and, above all things, do not put half-decom- 

 posed leaves or sticks into your borders. 



