202 THE GRAPE CULTUEIST. , 



glass, or against a wall or building. Sometimes thrips will 

 attack the fruit when it is nearly ripe, but usually they 

 confine themselves to the leaves. Syringing the vines with 

 a strong solution of tobacco water is one of the most effect- 

 ual modes of getting rid of this little pest. 



APHIS. 



The Aphis, or green fly, often called plant-louse, is an- 

 other very small insect, although much more injurious than 

 the thrip. The rapidity with which they multiply is truly 

 astonishing, as in a few hours after they make their appear- 

 ance upon a plant it will often become entirely covert 

 with them. 



They usually attack only the ends of the young shoots 

 and more tender leaves, feeding upon the juices of the 

 plant, which they take from it in such quantities as to 

 cause those parts which they infest to soon wither and 

 die. Moist, warm weather seems to suit them better than 

 any other. They frequently attack young vines in the 

 nursery, and often entirely destroy the terminal shoot as 

 well as the young laterals, thus severely checking the 

 growth of the vine. 



Vines grown under glass are more subject to the attacks 

 of the aphis than others, but here they are readily destroyed. 

 Fumigation with tobacco smoke is the most effectual 

 remedy. The process is as follows : first syringe the 

 plants until every leaf is wet, or at least damp ; then take a 

 wire basket or small furnace, and fill it with live coals and 

 carry it into the house ; throw some tobacco upon the coals 

 and fill the house with smoke ; shut up the house and let 

 it remain for twelve hours, after which ventilate it and give 

 the plants another good syringing so as to clean off the 

 dead insects and smoke. Although the aphis is easily de- 

 stroyed when infesting plants in the house, when they at- 

 tack plants in the open air it is quite another thing. 



