ATTACKS OP INSECTS, ETC. 317 



duties which are often of such a nature as to afford no encour- 

 . agement to the owners of vineyards to increase their produce, 

 or enlarge their extent by expensive disbursements. They 

 also relate to maritime wars, which render great injury to the 

 export commerce ; and to restrictions of any kind, which affect 

 in a greater or less degree the egress of the wines to the most 

 profitable foreign markets, or their internal transportation to 

 the different sections of the country producing them. In ob- 

 viating the great expenses which would otherwise attend the 

 latter, internal canals are of immense importance, by facili- 

 tating the transport of so burthen some an article, at a com- 

 paratively small charge on its value. 



The condition of the proprietor is a subject also worthy of 

 particular consideration. When several unpropitious seasons 

 succeed each other, if he is poor he cannot make the advances 

 necessary to continue the vineyard in a good condition, nor 

 await a rise in price when it is unreasonably low, and he is 

 therefore placed at the mercy of speculators who enrich them- 

 selves at his expense. It is therefore from all considerations 

 more advantageous that the vines should be in possession of 

 persons who possess the means of making liberal disburse- 

 ments at any necessary period, and who have also the ability 

 to await the offer of such prices for their wines as will yield 

 them a profit. 



Some of the difficulties above enumerated, it will be per- 

 ceived, apply more fully to other countries than to our own, 

 and particularly to those where the vine culture has been ex- 

 tended far beyond the home consumption of its produce ; and 

 there appears to be none but what the vignerons of our country 

 may surmount by application and perseverance. I now come 

 to the consideration of the one relating to insects, and other 

 animal attacks. 



There are several species of insects, worms, and birds which 

 often cause injury to the vine. The insects and some species 

 of worms attack the leaves, and in particular cases the fruit : 

 they are also troubled in France by a worm which sometimes 

 attacks the roots, more especially in the newly formed planta- 



