The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-09-05

ing a means Of combating the work OF q
pestiferous insect known as the phy.lox-
era. This insect did not attack the vines
in California, and the franciscan fathers
who first introduced the European grape
into California. before that Stare becslne
a pert Of the United States. hs no dts
Guilty in cultlvating 1t. and L has ever
since been considerable of an industry
there. But in the Eastern States this in
sect. or louise. for such " is. has played
havoc with all the vines that have 5sen
planted. and grape growers have despair
ed of being able TO grow the European
grape in this section of he United States.
Indeed, within the .ast fe~ yeas the
phylloxera has made Its appearance in
Europe. and there have been reports of its
presence in California All efforts 10 ex-
terminate the pest failed FOR = loag time,
but scientists finally found a mems of
checking its ravages. The phylIoxera at
tackled the roots OF the vines as well as
the vine above ground. but 1t was the in
jury to the root that killed the vine. IL
was discovered that the European root
was more susceptible TO damage from the
insect than the American roo. Indeed,
the American root was entirely uninjured
by the insect. possessing a resistant quail
ity not 10 be found In the European vine.
In all the experiments made in the c~la-
walton of the foreign grape the vine would
do finely for year or two and then wouid
wither and die. For a long time the SCI
entisis were unable TO explain this conGi-
ton. but they discovered finally tina. IL
was the phylloxera working at tho roots.
How TO overcome 1t was question. They
resorted TO grating, and 1t Was found
that by grating a cutting u :he Euro
pean vine onto a root of the American
grape vine they could effectu1lly dispose
of the phylloxera. Experiments in this
direction were very successful. ana the
phylloxera was conquered. These exper-
iments attracted the attention OF Euro
pean growers, with the result that great
many of the grapevines Of Europe are
now growing upon American roots.
Other Graz Periis.
For many years efforts TO raise the for
eign grape in the Eastern States were
made entirely by private parties. ana II
has only been within the past few yeats
that the Department of Agriculture mas
endeavored to accomplish rs successful
culture on large scale.
Not long since the department estab-
lished stations at carleton. Fla, ana
Southern Pines, N c., for experimenting
In the cultivation of the European grape.
Cuttings from the finest European vines
were procured by Prof. Swingle and ship
ped 10 this country, and they have been
successfully grated onto Niagara roots,
a native grape. The next thing the de-
partment people will have 10 overcome
is the destruction OF the fruit by midew
and black rot. These diseases are caused
by 100 much rain and as Florida annually
has its rainy season, 1t is somewhat of
difficult problem to solve. 1t Is hoped,
however that the fruit can be matured
early enough in the year to escape the
rain, and thus avoid the diseases. 1t will
be some time yet before il will be fully
demonstrated that the foreign grape can
be produced successfully in Florida. but
IL is confidently hoped that il can be. II
so. it Will be a happy solution of the
problem, and Florida orange growers
would do well to turn their attention 10
grape-raising instead of orange-growing.
although the people of that State are
more confident this year O. being able to
raise a good crop of oranges than they
have been for some lime. 1t is a fact
that the nurseries throughout the country
are entirely cut of orange trees, such
has been the demand for them the past
few months. There Is more reason to
hope for q successful cultivation of the
European grape in the Carolinas. as the
rainy season there is not so apt to de-
strOy The growing fruit as 1t is in Florida
Some Successful Experiments.
The experiments now being made are
under the direction of competent men
who report that the vines are doing we'll
In E10rdu thp arir t. balou -,
Quoted by German baron, who has de-
voted much time and thought to tho
growing of grapes. He came TO this
country several years ago with Lord Dun
raven. and the two went on a hunting