THE ENEMIES OF THE VINE. 



51 



to their " sphere of influence," though some of them operate in 

 all three districts. 



(a) The enemies of root or stem. First and most fatal the 

 Phylloxera, of which I have no knowledge. Then the larvae of 

 the cockchafer, theElater or wireworm, and the Daddy-long-legs, 

 also of the Cetonia and other beetles, especially those of the 

 weevil race, which have persecuted me beyond reason. The 

 cockchafer grub, though most destructive, has not to my know- 

 ledge done much havoc of late, because he has not mustered in 

 sufficient force. But we read of frightful ravages by him in old 

 time, and he may yet renew them. Nothing is sacred from 

 the wireworm, and in early days he teased me much, but by 

 pegging at him constantly we quenched him, as well as the 

 genial Daddy (or Tipula oleracea). The Cetonia aurea is compa- 

 ratively scarce with us, and has never done much harm, though 

 the beautiful beetle is a great gourmand. 



But of the weevil (Curculio vitis, alias Otiorhynchus vastator, 

 picipes, or sulcatus), could I only speak as he deserves, our 

 language would again be vigorous. Little did I think, five-and- 

 twenty years ago, when first I saw a scolloped leaf, very early in 

 the morning, what a monstrous cantel would be cut out of all the 

 joys of the vintage. I found him then, and admired his incisors, 

 and treated him also to some incision. The partner of his joys 

 was not far off, and we made her the partner of his sorrows. In 

 those days this Curculio was apparently a monogamist, perhaps 

 by force of circumstance, and when we found one we always 

 hunted for his bride ; but now they have lost even that good trait. 



The first year we killed about six pairs, and felt a kindly 

 interest in them, as a boy does in a cockchafer. But the following 

 year they increased apace, and forfeited all our sympathies. But 

 as yet their attacks upon the roots had not become perceptible, 

 and, being no entomologist, I paid little heed to their babyhood. 



But this I had to do with a vengeance by-and-by ; for 

 although we knew well that they were dangerous, and hunted 

 them by day, and by night as well, in the fashion most accredited, 

 the miscreants grew apace upon us, and made their way into the 

 adjoining house, then devoted to pot Vines. And here the more 

 serious plague began ; for although they had injured the esta- 

 blished Vines, by scolloping the leaves, and sometimes nipping 

 a young shoot off, they had done no perceptible damage to the 



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