AND WINE MAKING. 105 



close, sultry air, and hot glimpses of sunsliiiie between 

 showers. It at first appears as a grayish spot on the 

 foliage, which shrivels as if burnt, an.^. the berries dry 

 up as if scalded by hot water. It comes in spots ; some- 

 times all the fruit on one arm will be destroyed, while 

 that on the other arm on the same yine is healthy, and 

 all of it will ripen. 



The best method of avoiding all these diseases is to 

 plant varieties not subject to them, and with the mani- 

 fold kinds we now have, some can surely be found that 

 will remain healthy in every locality at all adapted to 

 grape growing. That we have varieties exempt from dis- 

 ease, the experience with the Norton's Virginia, wherever 

 cultivated, has fully demonstrated. No sensible man, 

 however, will suppose that one variety should be suited 

 to all locations over this wide country. It behooves us 

 then, each to experiment, and ascertain which are suited 

 to his particular locality, and for these experiments to 

 choose such as are considered most healthy elsewhere, 

 and especially in locations similar to his, in climate and 

 soil. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE GRAPE. 



As the most destructive of all, because it works chiefly 

 under ground, and the mischief it does will only be per- 

 ceived in its effects, I may consider the Phylloxera vasta- 

 trix, or Grape-vine Root-louse. Concerning the exist- 

 ence of this pest, we have for a long time been ignorant, 

 until the efforts of our State Entomologist, Prof. C. V. 

 Riley, and of other Entomologists, especially Prof. 

 Planchon, of France, have enlightened us upon the 

 subject, and made us aware of the danger threatening 



