130 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



There can be no doubt that there are scores of decoc- 

 tions that will kill this insect — such as salt, hellebore, 

 &c. ; but the difficulty to overcome lies in the depth of 

 soil to be so acted on, for a few insects left still leaves 

 the enemy in possession of the field, and there can be 

 no certainty of stamping it out in this way. I believe 

 that to submerge the whole border and vines in clean 

 water would destroy the insect ; but what of the eggs 

 or larvEe ? * Mr Dunn, of Dalkeith Gardens, when at 

 Powerscourt, in Irelaud, got rid of it in some vineries 

 there by lifting and washing the roots of the vines, and 

 merely picking all the roots out of the soil, and mixing 

 dry soot and caustic lime with the old soil, and replant- 

 ing the vines ; and great credit is due to him for the 

 process. But I am certain that he wiU agree with 

 me that that process leaves some risks in the way of 

 stamping it out; and I know of a place in England 

 where even more radical means failed. Therefore it 

 must be admitted that the most certain way of 

 stamping out this destroyer is to burn the vines, 

 remove right away aU the soil, weU salt the site of 

 the border, and wash and paint everything connected 

 with the vinery before fresh soil is put into it. 

 This is the process that I have adopted, and I think, 

 in the interests of grape-growing, all who have this 

 pest in their vineries should, for their own sake and 

 that of others, pursue the more certain course. 



DISEASES TO WHICH VINES AEE SUBJECT. 



Shanking. — This disease has derived its name from 

 its being an affection of the " shanks " or stalks of the 



* If any person in this country is rewarded for dealing suocessfally 

 with tlie pest, I think Mr Dunn deserves it. 



