96 POPULAR FRUIT GROWING. 



Remedies. By taking advantage of the fact that the insects 

 are dumpish early in the morning and may be easily jarred 

 to the ground, large numbers may be destroyed by shaking the 

 vines after first laying down strips of cloth covered with coal 

 tar or similar material that will catch them. Perhaps the best 

 remedy consists in making two frames four feet square out of 

 common lath and covering them with cloth coated with fresh coal 

 tar. Two men are required to use these, who place the frames 

 opposite one another on each side of the rows, and as near as 

 practicable at the bottom, at the same time gently jarring the 

 vines by striking downwards, with a few light branches, on each 

 side. In this way large numbers of the insects can be caught, 

 and if this method is persistently used this pest may be kept 

 in check. 



The Grape Phylloxera (Phylloxera vastatrix) or root louse, 

 is an American insect that is frequently found on the roots or 

 leaves of 'American vines. On the roots its presence results in 

 the formation of swellings or knotty excrescences. It occasion- 

 ally appears on the leaves of some species that have thin foliage 

 such as those of the Riparia class, where it forms many galls 

 on the under side of the leaves which sometimes become so 

 abundant as to seriously check the growth of vines. This leaf 

 form is seldom very troublesome and is not necessary for the 

 propagation of the species. It spreads by winged forms that 

 occur on the roots or leaves and may travel through or over 

 the land for considerable distances. On the American vines its 

 presence does not necessarily cause death or seriously check 

 their growth, but European vines succumb very quickly to its 

 attacks and it has been the principal cause of the inability of 

 growing European grapes successfully in this country. The im- 

 portation of this insect into Europe and its spread there threat- 

 ened to destroy the vine industry of many sections. 



Remedies. The danger from this insect has there been large- 

 ly overcome by grafting the European kinds on native American 

 species which are resistant to this pest; the native V. riparia (our 

 River Bank grape) is commonly used. Immense quantities of wood 

 of this species have been sent to Europe for this purpose. The 

 Phylloxera is a native of America east of the Rocky Mountains 



