﻿14° FIELD AND FORES'] - . 



minute aphid e, which formed yellow patches on the roots of the grapes, 

 and proved equally disastrous as the mildew." 



This " minute aphide " is now better known as the Phylloxera vas- 

 tatrix, and it is not improbable that there, as here, mildew prepared 

 the vines for the rapid increase of the insect and the final destruction 

 it has occasioned. 



As to the identity of the leaf-gall insect of the grape and the louse 

 on its roots, it is an entomological question with which I am totally 

 unacquainted. The leaf-gall on grapes is, however, a very old ac- 

 quaintance, and in some seasons appears in great abundance on some 

 varities of native grapes. The Clinton, a variety of Vitis cordifolia, 

 is especially subject to the attacks of the leaf-gall insect, but without 

 any apparent injury to the plant ; this variety being one of the most 

 robust and productive grapes in cultivation ; it is also one of the least 

 liable to mildew. The Taylor, a variety which may be referred to 

 Vitis riparia, (Engelmann,) is also very subject to the leaf-gall ; it is 

 also noted for its healthy vigor and freedom from fungoid diseases. 



Those who are familiar with the diseases of plants can mostly dis- 

 tinguish from the appearance of a sickly plant, whether the disease is 

 of fungoid origin, or from the effects of insects. 



The best remedy, therefore, for the Phylloxera is to maintain healthy 

 foliage on the vines. This is not so paradoxical as it seems. 



William Saunders. 

 Washington, D. C. 



Notes on the Preservation of Fungi. 



An article in a recent number of Field and Forest upon the preser- 

 vation of fungi, induces me to send you the following notes of my own 

 experience during the past two years. 



The only objection to keeping fungi in glass bottles or jars, is that, 

 the jars require more space than the most of private collectors can give, 

 besides the specimens are unhandy to get at and untidy to handle. 



There is no difficulty in preserving some species in the usual way 

 upon paper, but with the large Boleti and Agarics, it is next to impos- 

 sible to keep them perfect for satisfactory examination. 



Some specimens can be preserved in silver sand, but if they remain 



