128 THE GRAPE IN KANSAS. 



BLACK ROT OF THE GRAPE. 



The circular, bright reddish-brown spots on the leaves are the first indication 

 of black rot. In these spots black pimples soon appear, which contain the spores 

 of the disease. As the spores ripen and are carried by wind or rain to the other 

 leaves or the fruit, they start new points of attack. On the fruit the disease 

 first appears as small brown spots, which enlarge, causing the berry to assume a 

 rotten appearance, and later to shrivel up and turn black. As the berry dries 

 the skin becomes arranged in folds or furrows, covered with black pimples ; this 

 is characteristic of black rot. In the pimples are the winter spores, which start 

 the disease anew the following spring. 



Remedy. Burn all grape trimmings and diseased berries and rubbish in the 

 vineyard. Spray with Bordeaux mixture as soon as the leaves appear, and again 

 in ten days or two weeks; just after blossoming give a third spraying, and two 

 weeks later the fourth. If another application is necessary, it may be given two 

 weeks after the fourth. 



GRAPE-VINE FLEA- BEETLE 



Is found in almost all parts of the United States, on wild and cultivated grape- 

 vines. Although this beetle has received the specific name of chalybea^ mean- 

 ing steel blue, it is exceedingly variable in color. " The most common tint of the 

 upper side is a glossy, deep, greenish blue, the under side is a dark green, and 

 the antennae and feet are dull black. The body is oblong oval, and the hinder 

 part of the thorax is marked with a transverse furrow. It measures rather more 

 than three-twentieths of an inch in length." Two broods usually appear in a 

 season the first in April or May, according to location, and the second in July 

 and August. I have not heard of any section where they have been very de- 

 structive, but they will probably become so unless some precaution is taken 

 against their further advance. Hand picking is the surest mode of destroying 

 them. It is said, however, that if a strong solution of potash ia thrown over the 

 vines it will destroy them. They seldom bother to such an extent but that they 

 could be easily gathered by hand, or shaken from the vines and crushed by the 

 foot. 



THE FLEA-BEETLE ON GRAPES. 



The flea-beetle, or steel bug, which makes such ravages in the vineyard, is a 

 close relative to the black and striped beetles which infest turnips, cabbage and 

 radishes as soon as they begin growth in spring. It is a very small, shiny beetle, 

 ranging in color from a steel blue to metallic green and purple, according to cir- 

 cumstances; in size it is only about a third that of the potato-bug. It appears 

 early in the spring, just when the buds are swelling, and, if allowed to work un- 

 disturbed will soon destroy the buds on a large number of vines. They do not 

 always kill the vines, as most of them have latent buds to take the place of those 

 destroyed, but with the latent buds no fruit-buds appear; consequently the crop 

 is lost, as well as much of the vitality of the vines. When the leaves begin to 

 unfold the beetles lay their eggs on the under side of them, and these soon hatch 

 out in the form of brown grubs, which feed on the grape leaves; when full- 

 grown they go into winter quarters, to emerge in the form of flea-beetles the fol- 

 lowing spring. Sometimes a great number of the bugs appear, and then for 



