240 THE GRAPE. 



Wood. Bark. 



Potash, 20.84 1.77 



Soda, 2.06 9.27 



Chlorine, v 0.02 0.40 



Sulphuric acid, . . - . . . 0.23 trace 



Phosphate of lime, .... 15.40 5.04 



Phosphate of peroxide of iron, . . . 1.20 5.04 



Carbonic acid, 34.83 32.22 



Lime 17.33 39.32 



Magnesia, 4.40 0.80 



Silex, . ,' .-'=.. . . . 2.80 14.00 



Soluable silica, ... . . . 0.00 0.30 



Coal and organic matter, . . . .2.20 1.70 



100.21 100.86 



From this any one moderately conversant with the components of 

 soils can readily see what is required for his vines. Burying the 

 refuse cuttings and leaves, sprinkling on gypsum, (plaster of Paris.) 

 and supplying freely the soap-suds, and wash-water of a family, 

 with animal (or barn-yard) manures, and wood ashes, are most 

 advisable, aside from the specific application of potash and bone dust. 



Insects and diseases. The aphis and slug, described fully in "Har- 

 ris' Treatise," appear in the months of May and June. They are 

 easily destroyed by syringing with tobacco- water. The grape vine 

 flea-beetle, (Haltica Chalybea) a small, glossy, greenish-blue beetle 

 about three-twentieths of an inch long, sometimes preys upon the 

 buds, causing them to appear as if bored. This insect was first (we 

 believe) described by David Thomas, in Silliman's Journal of Sci- 

 ence, and is also noticed in Harris' Treatise. The eggs are depos 

 ited early and soon change to a greenish, smooth worm, which preys 

 upon the tender, leaf and young bunches. It is destroyed in this 

 state by syringing with tobacco-water or sifting lime over the vines 

 when wet with dew. The rose-bug (melolontha) occasionally attacks 

 the vines in great numbers, eating off the upper surface of the leaf 

 and causing the vinous fibres left to look like a sieve. They are 

 best destroyed by spreading a cloth underneath and shaking tho 

 vines in the cool of evening or near sun-set. They will fall and may 

 then be burned. A few dollars expended in this way, we have 

 known to have saved the entire crop for the year, as well as prevent 

 their presence to any extent another season. The curculio some- 

 times attacks the grape, but thus far we have never heard of any 

 serious injury to the crop. 



Mildew is rarely met with, when specific nutrition has been ap- 

 plied. It is easily checked by free sprinkling of powdered sulphur 

 over the vines and earth when wet with dew. It is a fungus attack- 



