CHAPTER XIX. 



INSECT ENEMIES OF THE GRAPE. 



In its natural wild state the grape appears to be 

 about as free from insect enemies as any other fruit-bear- 

 ing plant ; but it has a few, and these have been allowed 

 to increase upon vines under cultivation, until they are 

 becoming quite formidable, and in some parts of the 

 country their ravages have been so great, of late years, 

 as to materially lessen the product of many vineyards. 



The rapid increase of noxious insects is, without 

 doubt, owing, in a great measure, to the destruction of 

 tliose birds that li.ve mostly upon them. If we destroy 

 or drive away the natural enemies of the insects, then 

 \vc must take upon ourselves the office of destroyer, and 

 work with perseverance and vigilance, or see all our 

 efforts to produce fruit in abundance of no avail. That 

 noxious insects tire rapidly increasing throughout the 

 country must be apparent to every one who has given 

 the subject attention. Insects that, a few years since, 

 were unknown in tho Western States, are now found 

 there in abundance, having been introduced, not only 

 from the Eastern States, but imported from European 

 countries with seeds, fruits, etc. 



It matters but little where these hosts of insects 

 come from, the fact that they exist, with few idlers 

 among them, is enough to set every one of us to work to 

 check their progress in every way possible. To proceed 

 on our work of destruction understand! ngly, we should 

 first know our enemies ; for some insects that are found 

 on the grape vine do not injure it, like the common Lady 



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