GRAPE ROOT-WORM INVESTIGATIONS IN 1907. 63 
The true significance of these figures, however, is not realized 
unless we take into consideration that there are now nearly 10,000 
acres more of bearing vineyard than there were in 1900, which should 
of themselves produce nearly 1,800 carloads of fruit. 
An analysis of the 1907 crop report brings out forcibly the deterio- 
ration of the old established vineyards. In the three townships of 
Portland, Westfield, and Ripley, in which there has been much less 
new planting than in the townships at either the eastern or western 
extremities of the grape belt, and which therefore come nearer to giv- 
ing the true decline of old vineyards, there was a decrease of 585 car- 
loads of grapes below the crop for 1906. Placing the value of grapes 
at $25 per ton, the lowest price paid for grapes in 1907, there was a 
shrinkage in value approaching $175,000 in these three townships. 
While some of this decline in production may be due to depletion of 
soul, lack of proper cultivation, and adverse weather conditions, yet 
many vineyardists who are careful observers are now convinced that 
a high percentage of this loss is due directly to the ravages of the 
grape root-worm. 
— It is a fact notorious to all vineyardists that wood production in 
nearly all vineyards has greatly decreased. In the issue of the 
“Chautauqua Grape Belt” for January 7, 1908, the statement is made, 
in predicting a light crop for 1908, that in most vineyards the wood 
growth is 65 per cent of the normal wood growth of several years ago, 
and in many vineyards is as low as 25 per cent. Extended observa- 
tions during the past year convince the writer that this statement is 
by no means exaggerated. 
It was because of the existence of such conditions as are described 
above that the vineyardists of North East, Pa., became alarmed for 
the future of their vineyards, and appealed to the Secretary of Agri- 
culture for assistance. In compliance with this request investiga- 
tions were commenced by the Bureau of Entomology in the spring of 
1907. 
WORK UNDERTAKEN AT NORTH EAS™, PA. 
The main features of the work against the grape root-worm at 
North East, Pa., during the past summer have been: (1) A close 
study of vineyard conditions to determine the amount of injury for 
which this insect is responsible, and the amount of injury done to 
vines of various ages; (2) the conducting of large-scale spraying 
experiments in vineyards but recently infested, with a view to fur- 
nishing protection from the insect and maintaining the present stand- 
ard of crop production; (3) beginning large-scale experiments to 
determine the possibility of bringing badly injured vineyards up to 
a state of profitable production, and to ascertain the best means of 
furnishing protection to young vineyards just coming into bearing. 
