06 THE GRAPE. 



Insects. The grape is generally quite free from insects in 

 this section, but the two following named species are occasionally 

 troublesome, besides which there are several others that may 

 cause damage in the future, but as at present they are not numer- 

 ous enough to do much harm they are not referred to here. 



Grape Vine Flea Beetle (Graptodera chahjbea) is the name 

 of a small, dark colored beetle that is most injurious from its habit 

 of gnawing out the buds from the canes in early spring before 

 vegetation has started. Later in the season it feeds upon the 

 leaves on which the female lays her small orange-colored eggs in 

 the last of May or first of June. The young larvae riddle the leaf 

 with holes, or if very numerous eat all except the largest ribs, but 

 they or the beetles seldom cause serious trouble after the vine is 

 in leaf. 



REMEDY. The beetle may be jarred from the vines by a sud- 

 den shake, therefore by putting a piece: of cotton cloth, saturated 

 with kerosene, on the ground under and on each side of the vine 

 before it is jarred the beetles are destroyed. They have only to 

 touch the kerosene-covered cloth and they are almost instantly 

 killed. Care should be taken that the pieces of cloth are together 

 around the base of the vine. A warm, bright afternoon is the 

 proper time to do this work, and it should be very faithfully per- 

 formed every day until the vines are out of danger. By two per- 

 sons working together, one on each side of a row of vines, each 

 with a piece of cloth, the work can be done very rapidly. 



The Eight Spotted Forester (Alypia octomaculata) is the 

 name given to a blueish looking caterpillar that sometimes is quite 

 destructive to grape vines and the Virginia creeper by eating the 

 foliage. It may be kept in check by hand picking where there is 

 only a limited number, but when very abundant recourse must be 

 had to the poisoning of the foliage with arsenites. 



Varieties. For home use the hardy, healthy, productive 

 kinds that do not require much special culture, should always be 

 given the preference ; while for marketing varieties those that 

 need special culture may sometimes be most profitable. The fol- 

 lowing list includes the best of the varieties that have been well 

 tested, yet there are many others that produce well, and yi favored 

 locations may even be superior to some of those mentioned. For 

 the ordinary family a dozen vines are a great plenty, and three or 

 four that are well managed may give far more fruit than a dozen 

 that are neglected. 



BRIGHTON. A superb red grape of finest quality, of strong 

 growth and productive. It gives quite general satisfaction, but in 

 poor locations frequently fails to ripen evenly. Its flowers have 

 reflexed stamens and it should be planted, near perfect flowering 

 kinds. 



CONCORD. Where it will ripen it is the most productive and 

 satisfactory grape grown. Of good quality, vigorous, hardy and 

 healthy. In unfavorable locations in this section it often fails to 

 ripen. Black grape. 



