I am " only a woman " stumbling often accidentally upon valuable processes; have been cultivating fruits, flowers and vegetables for over twenty years, with my only aid, common sense and the many valuable magazines and periodicals, but had never read of paper bags for grapes. I have about twenty two very fine varieties of grapes, and each season was defrauded of half my crop by some insect (bees I guess) invariably piercing them, which of course induced speedy decay. In sheer desperation one season, as soon as fully grown, I procured about one hundred paper bags, mounted my step-ladder and inserted the finest bunches, sometimes two in a bag when very close together, and was delighted with the result; every bunch came out in a perfect state both as to taste and coloring. I had expected that failure would result, but it was "nip and tuck" either to risk the bags with chance of some grapes, or an entire certainty of total destruction by said insect. Is it bees that do it or what ? My next door neighbor has twelve hives of bees, also many others; but sometimes I thought it might be the excessive rains that periodically visit us in August just at the beginning of our ripening time.

I cannot ever get a bunch after September although bushels and bushels are on my vines each year, on account of the hole punctured by said insect; and would be so pleased to hear of some way to keep them longer. It would be a herculean task to me to bag my whole arbor, but I intend this year to have some fine specimens. I have eight to ten vines, young ones, of Delaware and Concord that I am taking especial pains in pinching in and have been plucking the leaves also, thinking sunshine an essential; but will desist now and note result. I insert a bunch in a small bag and then give it a vigorous twist at top and it remains there secure until removed.

[We have paid close attention to the bee question, and have no more doubt that the destruction is wholly the work of the bees than that we are writing this. The only remedy we know is to trap the bees and destroy them. This can be easily done. - Ed. G. M].