268 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ December, 
destroy it, unceasing care and perseverance in dressing and washing the vines, 
with insecticides, will be required. 
The Vine Scale {Palvinaria or Coccus vit{s\ —This insect is more common on 
the Continent on exposed vines than in this country. It is, however, frequently to 
be met with in our vineries, and is a terrible scourge, covering the stems at times, 
and also often appearing on the leaves and even on the fruit. The vine scale is 
found in great numbers on the Continent, especially in the South, being known 
by its large size and cottony exudation; sometimes its presence is made very 
evident by the patches of cottony matter. If this be removed, it will be seen 
that it lies over a brown scale more or less oblong, wrinkled, and raised in the 
middle. This is the dried-up body of the mother, and the cotton, if it is the 
product of the year, will be seen to be full of eggs in winter, which will be hatched 
during the first fine days in spring. The large, rounded individuals are the insects 
in the adult stage. Other bodies more elongated and somewhat brown are the 
males, which in summer are to be found on the under side of the leaf, or even on 
the branches ; their scales are twice as long as broad, and when they are ready 
to come from under the shield, two long silky hairs are to be seen projecting from 
the terminal extremity. The adult females are deep yellow, with blackish striae. 
The only way to get rid of this pest is by continued careful washing with soap and 
water, and destroying each insect as it is met with. 
Of other Insect Pests, happily not very familiar in this country, but which 
have been known to do great damage in many vineyards on the Continent, we 
shall briefly notice the following :— 
The Vine Beetle (Lethrus cephalotes'). —This somewhat resembles the common 
dung beetle. It'is, according to Kollar, very common in the southern parts of 
Hungary. It issues from the earth in spring, when the vine has begun to shoot, 
creeps upon the branches, bites off the leaf and flower-buds, and carries them 
back to the opening through which it left the earth. The only way to protect 
the vine from this enemy is to catch each one individually and kill it, and this 
can easily be done, as it carries on its work by daylight. 
The Vine Weevil {Curculio Betuleti). —This is a sort of beetle of a metallic 
green or steel-blue colour, which appears in spring as soon as the vines are in full 
leaf, and begins its work. It makes use of the leaves of the vines, partly for 
constmcting a dwelling, and partly as food for its young. It is not very common ; 
but unfortunately commits its depredations during the night. 
The Vine Tortrix or Moth {Tortrix vitisana'). —This is a moth from the cater¬ 
pillar of which the vines in the neighbourhood of Vienna have suffered much. 
The female, early in spring, lays her eggs singly on the twigs or buds of the vine, 
from which the young are hatched at the time when the blossom-buds are 
unfolded. These caterpillars fasten several blossom-buds together, and eat off 
the inner parts of the flowers. When one part is finished they go on to another, 
and so destroy a great quantity. Instances have occurred in which, though 
