﻿FIELD AND FOREST. 139 



It has been asserted that the cause of the failure in the ordinary vine- 

 yard culture of the foreign grape in this country is due to the ravages 

 of this insect, when it is well known that the cause of failure is owing 

 to the liability of the grape to be attacked by fungoid growths. 



We know that for more than half a century the foreign grape has 

 been successfully cultivated in this climate when placed under condi- 

 tions unfavorable to the spread of mildew on its foliage and fruit. In 

 view of facts, well ascertained, it seems superfluous to state that 

 these conditions are purely atmospherical, and have no relation with 

 insect attacks, either on the branches or the roots of the plant. 



The primary cause of failure and destruction, not only of the 

 European grape, but of so many popular varieties of our native species, 

 is attributable to the injury they receive from the destruction of foliage 

 by mildew in some of its various species and forms. 



The weakening effects of mildew on the grape makes its final destruc- 

 tion by Phylloxera possible ; diseased subjects, both in the animal and 

 vegetable kingdom, are liable to become the prey of insects, and when 

 the grape is weakened by repeated attacks of mildew, what little of 

 vitality remains is easily vanquished by the Phylloxera. If we com- 

 pare a list of native grapes, least subject to mildew, with the list of 

 those varieties acknowledged to be most exempt from the root-louse, 

 we will find them to be identical. 



Most of the remedies advanced for the destruction of Phylloxera are 

 impracticable, but even should a practical remedy be discovered the 

 great drawback to grape culture, mildew, still remains. On the other 

 hand, we have convincing proof that vines exempted from mildew 

 maintain a healthy constitution and a productive vigor which the 

 Phylloxera cannot overcome. 



Without going into details, it may be remarked that thirty years ago 

 the European vineyards were healthy, yielding abundant crops, and 

 the wine interest in a prosperous condition. In 1846 the iridium or 

 vine mildew made its appearance in France, rapidly spreading devas- 

 tation to the vines and ruin to their proprietors. In 185 1 it had 

 crossed the Mediterranean, invading Algeria, Syria and Asia Minor. 

 In 1852 it reached Madeira, and made such havoc that in 1856 only 

 200 pipes of wine were produced ; a striking contrast with the crop of 

 1850, which returned 14,000 pipes. A few years later we hear of a 

 root disease; subsequently we learn that it is caused by an insect " a 



