MANUAL* 



upon other plants, they perish. We thus have the 

 spectacle of a species annually wasting itself to a greater 

 or less extent, just as in the vegetable kingdom most 

 species produce a superabundance of seed, the larger 

 portion of which is destined to perish. Thus in the 

 thickly planted vine districts of France, lew winged 

 insects would fail to settle where their issue could sur- 

 vive, while in America, an immense number annually 

 perish in the large tracts of other vegetation interven- 

 ing between our vineyards." 



Under the stimulus of a large reward (800,000 francs) 

 appropriated for the purpose by the French Govern- 

 ment, innumerable plans have been proposed and ex- 

 periments made during the last five years, but no rem- 

 . edy has yet been discovered which gives entire satisfac- 

 tion, or is applicable to all conditions of soil. Submer- 

 sion is an efficacious remedy, but on most and espec- 

 ially on the best hilly vinelands, submersion is imprac- 

 ticable. An admixture of sand in the soil is also of 

 service, as the root-louse does not thrive on sandy soils. 

 Sulpho-carbonate of potassa and coal-tar are now men- 

 tioned as capable of destroying the Phylloxera, and 

 Mr. Mares as President of the Ministerial Commission , 

 in his report on the various (140) modes of treatment 

 tried in 1872 to 1874, states that manures rich in potash 

 and nitrogen, mixed with alkaline or earthy sulphates, 

 refuse of salt-works, soot, wood-ashes, ammonia, or 

 fat- lime, have given the best result. Prof. Kosssler 

 also believes in fighting the insect with manure and 

 phosphates, ammonia and potash, which treatment 

 succeeds in porous soils; and to obtain this porosity he 

 made use of dynamite, raising the soil from a great 

 depth without injuring the vines. He then puts some 

 chalk and phosphorus at the foot of the stock and irri- 

 gates. A gas is disengaged by the humidity, which de- 

 stroys great quantities of insects. But the grape grow- 

 ers seem not to believe in these medicinal insecticides, 

 or consider them impractical, too costly, and their ap- 

 plication too laborious. Many prefer in a great measure 

 to resort to planting American vines, mostly with a 

 view to graft thereon their own varieties. In Germany, 

 however, the importation of our vines and cuttings has 

 been prohibited by law, to prevent the introduction of 

 the dreaded insect. 



While this may be a wise precaution where the in- 

 sect does not exist, we fear that it comes too late. Its 

 existence for several years in France, in England also, 

 and its having been discovered in Switzerland and in 

 several localities in Germany, all tend to thwart the 

 very object of this prohibition, which is to preserve the 

 German vineyards from infection. Kiley and Planchon 

 have established the fact that the insect is indigenous 

 to the N. American continent, east of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, and there is little doubt but that it was first im- 

 ported into Europe on American vines. Yet it must 

 not be supposed that our American vines are all neces- 

 sarily infested with Phylloxera, or that the insect has 

 been introduced in every locality where our vines have 

 been planted. On the contrary there are localities 

 where, from the isolated nature of the vineyards, or the 

 nature of the soil, it is difficult to find the insect, and 

 like many other indigenous species, it is in some years 

 very numerous and injurious; in others scarcely to be 

 seen. There is no positive evidence yet that it can be 

 imported on cuttings, though such transport is not im- 



possible. It should be recollected also that vines im- 

 ported in late winter or early spring, cannot possibly 

 carry the insect, even if infected, in any other than the 

 egg or larva form; as no winged insects are then in ex- 

 istence, to escape on the way, or upon opening the 

 cases. While, therefore, we recognize the wisdom of 

 prohibiting the importation of American vines into 

 non-infected districts, it would seem unwise to cut off 

 from those districts already infected, the use of Ameri- 

 can vines, which withstand the insect's attacks; and the 

 danger of importing the insect would be avoided if the 

 plants or cuttings upon being unpacked were placed in 

 a bath of strong soapsuds. The greatness of the evil, 

 however, even justifies extreme measures. 

 THE GRAPE LEAF-HOPPER. 



(Erythroneura vitis.) 



Very generally but erroneously called Thrips. This 

 is one of the most troublesome insects the grape-grower 

 has to deal with. It is a very active little thing, run- 

 ning sideways like a crab, and dodging round quickly 

 to the other side when approached. It jumps with 

 great vigor, and congregates in great crowds upon 

 the under side of the leaf, pumping up the sap, and 

 thus causing numerous brown dead spots, and often 

 killing the leaf entirely. A vine badly infested with 

 these leaf-hoppers wears a speckled, rusty and sickly 

 appearance, while the leaves often drop prematurely 

 and the fruit in consequence fails to ripen. There are 

 several species attacking the Vine all belonging to the 

 same genus, however, and only differing in color. The 

 natural history of this insect is not recorded by entom- 

 ologists, but Prof. Riley informs us that the eggs are 

 thrust into the leaf-stems. Tobacco-water and soap- 

 suds are recommended, in the books, to be syringed on 

 the vines as a remedy ; but we would recommend 

 passing between the rows with a torch in the evening, 

 smearing the stakes in Spring with soft soap or other 

 sticky substance, and burning the leaves in the Fall. 

 The hoppers fly to the light of the torch ; and as they 

 pass the winter under leaves, loose bark of the stakes, 

 etc., cleanliness in and about the vineyard is of the first 

 importance in checking their ravages. The torch remedy 

 is most effectual when three persons work in company, 

 one between two rows with the torch, and one on the 

 further side of each of the rows to give the trellis a 

 slight shake and disturb the hoppers. 



THE GRAPE LEAF-FOLDER. 



(Desmia maculatis.) 



This is a worm of a glass-green color, very active, 

 wriggling, jumping and jerking either way at every 

 touch. It folds rather than rolls the leaf, by fastening 

 two portions together by its silken threads. The chrys- 

 alis is formed within the fold of the leaf. The moth is 

 conspicuously marked with black and white, all the 

 wings being bordered and spotted as in the annexed 



