252 THE GKAPE. 



sects are black, with two large yellow spots on each of the foie wings, 

 and two white ones on the hind wings. Their shanks are clothed with 

 orange colored hairs. Their wings expand from one inch to one inch 

 and a half. 



The Rose-bug (melolontha) occasionally attacks the vines in great 

 numbers, eating off the upper surface of the leaf, and causing the 

 vinous fibres left to look like a sieve. They are best destroyed by 

 spreading a cloth underneath, and shaking the vines in the cool of 

 evening or near sun-set. They will fall, and may then be burned. 

 A few dollars expended in this way, we have known to have saved 

 the entire crop for the year, as well as prevent their presence to any 

 extent another season. The curculio sometimes attacks the grape, 

 but thus far we have never heard of any serious injury to the crop. 



Mildew, or American Blight, is easily checked by free sprinkling 

 of powdered sulphur over the vines and earth when wet with dew. 

 Or, take one peck lime, one pound sulphur, pour hot water to slake 

 the lime, mix, add three gallons water, when clear draw off. Syringe, 

 when disease first appears, with half pint of above to three gallons 

 of water. It is a fungus, attacking the plant when not in perfect 

 health. The rot, so much deprecated by Vignerons, at Cincinnati, 

 we regard as attributable to want of perfect and free drainage. Many 

 soils in which all the elements of health to the vine are existent, are 

 at the same time so saturated with water that chemical action is 

 checked, and the soil being in a dormant condition, the plant must of 

 necessity become diseased. Some, we notice, consider it attributable 

 to too late and clean cultivation ; and as late cultivation only tends to 

 late growth, and formation of new leaves to exhaustion of what is 

 required for perfection of those already formed, the theory is good, 

 so far as it goes ; and possibly in soils greatly deficient in the consti- 

 tuents to perfect the grape, it may in a measure be the cause ; but in 

 soils well supplied with the required food, late cultivation would only 

 cause the bursting of new buds and continuance of growth. 



Uses Mode of Keeping. Universally esteemed when well ripen- 

 ed, as a dessert fruit, the Grape is also highly valued by many phy 

 sicians, as in its free use tending to health and the prevention of 

 rheumatic affections of the human system. For culinary use, and for 

 making of preserves, they are sought for, both in a green and ripened 

 state. Carefully gathered when ripe, laid in heaps for a few days on 

 the floor of a cool, dry room, then spread out for one or two days, 

 and packed in shallow boxes, with layers of cotton-batting at bottom 

 and intermediate between layers of fruit, as well as between bunches, 

 they may be placed in a cool room and kept fresh throughout most 

 of the Winter. The following method has been practiced success- 

 fully by an extensive grape-grower, Charles Carpenter, Esq., of 

 Kelley's Island : 



" In putting down grapes for Winter use, several requisites are ne- 

 cessary for success, viz. : The fruit must be fully ripe, well supplied 



