GRAPE PESTS AND THEIR CONTROL 227 



and destruction wasteth at noonday" in the vineyards of the 

 country. But not many of the ills that grape-flesh is heir 

 to are ever found in one region, and the vineyard is seldom 

 attacked by many diseases or insects in a single season. There 

 was a time, as we have said before, when grape-growers were 

 so beset by pests which they could not control, that viticulture 

 was one of the most uncertain fields in agriculture. But one 

 brilliant discovery after another has brought the pests of the 

 grape under the hand of man until now there are but few that 

 need cause much expense in treatment or worry as to the out- 

 come. 



Plants cannot be attacked by diseases unless infection is 

 permitted. It follows that by proper sanitation most of the 

 insect pests of the vine can be kept out of the vineyard. 



Vineyard sanitation. 



By changing or modifying environment, immunity can be 

 secured from many of the pests of the grape and damage may 

 be reduced with most if not all. Cultivation, as has been noted 

 under several insect pests and one or two of the diseases of 

 the grape, is an effective method of eliminating grape pests. 

 In the case of insects, it destroys the insects themselves and 

 the hibernating places as well. The vineyard should never 

 be kept in sod, but always under thorough and frequent culti- 

 vation. Vineyard sanitation is greatly improved, also, if 

 cover-crops which remain green during the winter are planted 

 after the last cultivation. Cultivation should usually be pre- 

 ceded by deep plowing in the fall or spring to turn under fallen 

 leaves and weeds or grass in which hibernating insects may 

 pass the winter. 



The surroundings of the vineyard should be looked after. 

 Fence-rows and waste lands which cannot be cultivated may 

 often be burned over to destroy the hibernating places of grape 

 insects. As a rule, it is unwise to plant the bramble berries 



