WINE-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. 201 



doubt be of some use, digging ditches and then crushing 

 them, etc. There visitations, however, are very few, and 

 seem to be only temporary, as the rains of the next winter, 

 together with their insect enemies, have destroyed them. 



It seems also that they destroy all other insect enemies to 

 the vine, or starve them out, as seldom any of them are seen 

 the next summer. 



Bees and wasps are sometimes quite troublesome, and it is 

 certainly not advisable to grow grapes and also keep bees. 

 Traps of small jars, filled with a solution of molasses, into 

 which they will crawl and drown themselves, is about the 

 best remedy. 



The punctured Diabrotica, a small beetle of the size of a 

 common lady bug, also preys upon the berries, eating holes 

 into them. So tar it has not been very destructive. Our 

 common lady bug, the little red and black beetle, is accused 

 by some of feeding on the bloom and the young berries, but 

 I think erroneously. I have always considered it one of the 

 best friends of the vineyardist and orchardist, as they destroy 

 thousands of aphis or plant lice, ants andthrips, and I should 

 be very sorry to see my little friend convicted of real mischief.. 



Among our best friends we may also count the common 

 toads and lizards, which destroy countless insects, and should 

 be carefully preserved and fostered, not tortured and killed, as 

 thoughtless children will do sometimes. 



I believe that a solution of London purple, about one 

 pound to fifty gallons of water, sprinkled over the vines before 

 the bloom, will destroy most of the insects that prey on the 

 foliage. I trust that we will soon have conclusive evidence as 

 to its merits. 



Rabbits or hares are sometimes very destructive, biting off 

 the young vines and grafts. Other remedies, such as blood, 

 etc., smeared on the vines, have done but little good so far. 

 When they are numerous, a tight picket fence is the best safe- 



