DISEASES AND INSECTS. 379 



with a rapidity that would hardly be suspected. 

 It would be better to eradicate at once any vine 

 that has become constitutionally affected, for it 

 seldom recovers its health. Fortunately, this 

 stage of the disease is not as yet often seen. 



Now, if the reader will bear in mind that the 

 parasite is favored in its attack by a lowering 

 of the vital force of the plant, he will recognize 

 the propriety of the remedies to be used, which 

 are twofold : first, to abate the cause, if possible ; 

 secondly, to apply some remedy that will kill 

 the parasite. The two must be combined ; for, 

 if the cause which invited the disease remains, 

 it will only favor the multiplication of the very 

 enemy we are trying to destroy. In the grapery 

 these remedies are more easily applied than in 

 the vineyard ; still, we are by no means help- 

 less. The atmospheric conditions may be 

 against us, but we must not look idly on, like 

 fatalists. Some effort must be made to save the 

 crop. It may be that the soil is hard and com- 

 pact ; if so, simply breaking up the surface a 

 couple of inches will be a great benefit, but the 

 utmost care must be used not to disturb the 

 roots. The whole vineyard, including the 

 drains, should be carefully examined to see 

 where and how something may be done to 



