120 



The (irape Calturisi. 



Agriculturist ^ reference is made to a 

 "vine borer" in Missouri that cuts off 

 vines below the surface. It is also 

 mentioned, and partially described, in 

 the last Gardenefs Monthly. This 

 "borer" is an old friend (?) of mine. 

 It is found principally in old rotten oak 

 stumps. I hardl}' ever dig one out 

 without finding several of these worms. 

 They are about two inches long, taper- 

 ing from head to tail, white bodies and 

 black heads. I lose, on an average, 

 about fift}- vines and dwarf pears annu- 

 ally by these little villains ; probably 

 twice as many pears as vines. I have 

 had several apple trees cut oft' by them, 

 and one standard pear. The tree roots 

 seem often to be. eaten entirely up, but 

 the vine roots are only cut through as 

 if they had obstructed the line of travel. 

 This is no new insect, but will, I 

 think, probal)ly be found troublesome 



whenever dwarf pears and vines are 

 planted among decayed oak stumps." 

 Hemedies. — Little can be done in the 

 way of extirpating these underground 

 borers, when, as in the i)resent in- 

 stance, their presence is only indicated 

 by the approaching death of the vine. 

 Still, every vineyardist should make it 

 a rule to search for them wherever 

 they find vines suddenly dying from 

 any cause unknown to them, and upon 

 finding such a borer, should at once 

 put an end to his existence. The 

 beetle, which may frequently be found 

 during the summer months, should also 

 be ruthlessly sacrificed wherever met 

 with. I should also advise not to plant 

 a vineyard on land covered with old 

 oak stamps, and not to use oak posts 

 where those made of cedar can be had 

 as convenientlv. 



EDITOI^S' LETTEIl BOX. 



H. J>Z, in St. L. — You wish to know 

 how best to purify musty vaults, on the 

 walls and fioor of which mould has 

 been formed. 



For this purpose, place an earthen or 

 stone vessel in the middle of the vault, 

 put from two to four pounds of common 

 salt into it, close all windows and other 

 openings, bung up carefull}' all casks, 

 and pour into the vessel one-half pint 

 of concentrated sulphuric acid to each 

 pound of salt. Leave the vault a-i 



quick as possible and close the door 

 well. Let the vault remain closed at 

 least three hours, but do not enter it 

 as you would be suffocated. After the 

 expiration of this time, first open the 

 ventilators, so that the remaining gas 

 may escape, and then sweep the mould, 

 which by this time has been destroj'ed, 

 from tlie walls and the floor. Youi- 

 vault will be porfectly pure for a long 

 while to come. 



