VINE, 



299 



ries measuring from two to three inches in circumference. 

 On one vine which I planted a fevv^ years since — a cutting in 

 the spot where it now grows — I had seventy bunches of fine 

 chasselas, weighing from eight to eighteen ounces each. 



But the grape-vines have of late years been attacked by 

 a small insect which makes its appearance first in June, 

 but is most abundant in August. This insect, if left to in- 

 crease, destroys the vegetating principle in the leaf, and 

 the plant languishes, the fruit mildews, and the labour and 

 care of the cultivator are lost. Some gentlemen have aban- 

 don cd their vines in consequence of the depredations of 

 this liisect, and others, with great labour and expense of 

 time, have attempted, but in vain, to destroy them with al- 

 kalies and tobacco-juice. This has, to be sure, operated to 

 check them partially, but not effectually. To remedy this 

 evil, you have only to make a small, light frame, twelve or 

 fourteen feet long, in the form of a soldier's tent, but 

 with hinges of leather where the top joins, so that this tent 

 may be shut up or opened at the bottom to any width you 

 may require, according to the height of your trellis. This 

 light frame, which should be made of slats of boards from 

 one to two inches broad, may be covered with an old sail, 

 or some cheap glazed cotton cloth, which will stop the 

 smoke, leaving cloth enough loose at each end to close 

 over, and prevent the smoke from escaping when the tent 

 is spread over the trellis. 



A few tobacco-stalks, moistened and put on some coals 

 in a pan, will be sufficient to smoke the vines thoroughly; 

 and, as the tent is easily moved along the trellis on some 

 small w^heels, one man may, in a few hours, extirpate this 

 enemy of the vineyard. Vines that are already attacked by 

 this insect to any great degree should be smoked in June, 

 July, and twice in August, or oftener, if you find the insect is 

 not completely destroyed. 



The insects are first seen on the under part of the leaf, 

 vv^ithout wings — very active, but easily destroyed if touched. 

 They afterwards assume the winged state, when it is very 

 difficult to get at them, as they fly off on the vines being 

 touched. They are yellow, striped with brown across the 

 back. The moment the smoke ascends, the winged in- 

 sects quit the leas es, and fall to the ground dead or alive ; 

 the young ones perish, but the older ones will revive if not 

 destroyed in their torpid state. To effect this, you have 

 only to cover the ground under the tent with apiece of wet 

 cloth before you beghi to smoke, to which they adhere un* 



