158 FRUir CULTURE. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE GRAPE. 



The Grape Phylloxera {P. vastatrix). This 

 is a native American louse, which has been ex- 

 ported to Europe, and has become immensely 

 destructive to the foreign varieties of grapes, 

 which are much more liable to its attacks than 

 our American kinds. The louse develops in two 

 forms, one of which infests the leaves, punctur- 

 ing and producing galls on the under side, which 

 they inhabit, rapidly multiplying and extending 

 their operations. The other and more hurtful 

 form subsist upon the young rootlets, causing 

 little swellings which gradually extend, to the 

 utter ruin of whole vineyards in France and 

 other countries. Recently it has appeared upon 

 the European varieties cultivated in California, 

 and it is feared will prove very destructive. It 

 is also to a considerable degree injurious to our 

 native kinds, and to some varieties more than 

 to others. The Concord and Clinton types are 

 comparatively free. The gall-producing type 

 may easily be controlled by gathering the in- 

 fested leaves. In planting young vines, the 

 roots should be carefully examined to see if 

 knotty swellings are upon the roots ; if so, the 

 lice may readily be destroyed by dipping in hot 

 soap-suds or tobacco water. It is difficult to 



