158 THE GRAPE. 



substances, In which case it should be taken out with a 

 small brush or pointed stick, for if left in its lurking 

 places, the bunches among which it is located will be 

 disfigured and too dirty for use. The tortoise-shell scale is 

 more solitary in habits, and in appearance like a small tor- 

 toise-shell ; it is to be found in the same places as the 

 brown scale, lives upon the juices of the vine, and can be 

 destroyed by the same means. Aphidae, or green and 

 black fly, are small insects, sluggish in movement, having 

 prominent antennae, a large abdomen, and a long probos- 

 cis, with which they pierce the cuticle of the tender shoots, 

 and draw out the sap, which quickly brings decrepitude 

 into the advancing extremities. They are viviparous and 

 gregarious, and increase amazingly fast. 



Thrips are small, active, linear-shaped little insects, 

 which congregate on and run over the under surface of 

 the leaves, disfiguring them, and eating the epidermis or 

 outer covering; and thefretters (a species of cycadce) move 

 by short flights, or rather jumps when disturbed ; they 

 are somewhat linear and triangular in form, small, and of 

 a palish yellow color, and like the last they feed on the 

 outer covering of the leaves. All the last three varieties 

 can be destroyed by fumigating with tobacco, but care 

 should be used in the operation, so as not to apply too 

 much while the leaves are young and tender, for in that 

 state they are soon injured. 



The rose bug is a lightish brown little beetle, with a 

 small head, and long proboscis. In some parts of the 

 country it is very destructive to hardy grape-vines, before 

 and about the time of blossoming. It congregates through 

 the day-time often in great numbers, and eats the tender 

 flower stems, thus destroying all future prospects for 

 the season. The most effectual way of keeping this trou- 

 blesome customer in check, is by hand-picking, at inter- 



