THE GRAPE. - 157 



Of Insects there are several that are quite destructive -to tlie grape 

 plant, among which the most formidable is the phylloxera, a tiny in- 

 sect which, in its several stages, is lately making deadly havoc 

 among the vineyards of both Europe and America — affecting the 

 roots as well as the foliage. In its work ufjon the foliage it does 

 comparatively little injury, but its work upon the roots is very de- 

 structive — eating away the fibrous portions, and causing them to 

 decay and die. 



Against the ravages of this insect there is as yet no known satis- 

 factory remedy. Large rewards have been offered in Europe to 

 stimulate discovrry, and in America the entomologists and others are 

 diligently pursuing their investigations. 



The leaf-hopper is a troublesome insect on some varieties. It is 

 an active little beetle, and works on the underside of the leaves, 

 causing them to assume a deadly appearance in spots, and finally 

 killing the leaf entirely. Soapsuds has been recommended as a rem- 

 edy, also tobacco infusion thrown upon them with a syringe. 



The leaf-folder is a green worm that folds itself up in the leaf, 

 where it goes into the chrysalis state. The parent moth appears in 

 the spring and. deposits her eggs, which hatch and fold themselves 

 up during the summer. The increase of both this and the leaf- 

 hopper may be checked by raking up and burning the leaves in the 

 fall. 



There is also a grape curculio, inferior in size to the plum cur- 

 culio, but with habits somewhat similar. It punctures the fruit 

 and deposits an e^g, which hatches a worm to live on the juices. 

 This larva leaves the berry during summer, and passes into the 

 ground. It is believed, however, to issue again in the fall as a beetle, 

 and thus pass the winter. 



Many other more or less destructive insect enemies of the grape 

 might be mentioned. 



VARIETIES. 



In this list of some fifty or sixty varieties we shall divide them 

 into two classes — first, the old and well known sorts ; and, second, 

 the newer productions which are proving or promising well. While 

 many ot them are known special ly as wine grapes, our aim is to fur- 

 nish a list of grapes for the table — for food rather than for drii k — and 

 suited to the wants of the million. 



