608 
 G7 
 
Cornell University Library 
 SB 608.G7A83 
 
 Phylloxera and other diseases of the gra 
 
 3 1924 003 684 440 
 
PHYLLOXERA 
 
 AND OTHER 
 
 DISEASES OF THE GRAPE-YM 
 
 CORRESPJNDENCE AND EXTRACTS REPRINTED FOR 
 PUBLIC INFORMATION. 
 
 COMPILED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 NEW ZEALAND: 
 
 by authority: geoege DIDSBUBY, GOVERNMENT 1>EINTEK. 
 
 1891. 
 
THE 
 
 JOHN • CRAIG 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 COLLEGE 
 
 OF 
 
 AGRICULTURE 
 
PHYLLOXEEA 
 
 AND OTHER 
 
 DISEASES OF THE GRAPE-VINE. 
 
 PffiESPONDENCE AND EXTRACTS REPRINTED FOR PUBLIC 
 INFORMATION. 
 
 COMPILED IN THE 
 
 DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 
 
 NEW ZEALAND : 
 
 AUTHORITY! GEORGE DIDSBURY, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, WELLINGTON. 
 
 1891. 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003684440 
 
INTEODUCTOKY. 
 
 This pamphlet contains — 
 
 (1.) Correspondence with the Agent-General as to 
 phylloxera in France and other wine countries in Europe. 
 
 (2.) Correspondence with R. J. Creighton, Esq., of San 
 Francisco, as to phylloxera and other diseases of the vine 
 in California. 
 
 (3.) Extracts from the following publications : — 
 
 California. 
 
 First Annual Report of the Chief Executive Viticultural 
 Officer to the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, 
 1881. 
 
 Annual Report of the State (California) Viticultural Con- 
 vention, 7th March, 1887. ^ 
 
 Second Annual Report of the Chief Executive Viticul- 
 tural Officer to the State Viticultural Commissioners, 
 1882-83 and 1883-84. 
 
 Annual Report . of I. De Turk, Commissioner for the 
 Sonoma District, to the Board of State Viticultural Commis- 
 sioners, 1887. 
 
 Report of J. H. Wheeler, Chief Executive Viticultural 
 and Health Officer to the Board of State Viticultural Com- 
 missioners, 1887. 
 
 Cape of Good Hope. 
 
 Report of the Inspector of Vineyards for 1886. Pre; 
 sented to both Houses of Parliament by command of, 
 Excellency the Governor in 1887. 
 
 Report of the Inspector of Vineyards 'for 1887. Pre- 
 sented to both Houses of Parliament by command of His 
 Excellency the Governor in 1888. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Phylloxera — 
 
 Page 
 
 In France 
 
 21, 25 
 
 In Germany 
 
 ..27 
 
 In Austria-Hungary 
 
 ..28 
 
 In Bulgaria 
 
 ..29 
 
 In Spain and Portugal 
 
 ..29 
 
 In Italy 
 
 ..32 
 
 In Switzerland 
 
 ..33 
 
 In Gape of Good Hope 
 
 33, 110 
 
 In United States 
 
 5 
 
 In California 
 
 .. ..64 
 
 Vine-diseases — 
 
 
 Phylloxera 
 
 ..64 
 
 Common mildew (Peronospora viticola) 
 
 ..42 
 
 Oiidium 
 
 42, 104 
 
 Lob Angeles (or " Anaheim ") 
 
 42, 46 
 
 Black-rot 
 
 ..51 
 
 Folletage 
 
 ..52 
 
 Enemies of the vine 
 
 ..119 
 
 General observations on vine-diseases 
 
 5 
 
 Measuees taken fob Prevention of Diseae 
 
 E— 
 
 In Germany 
 
 27 
 
 In Bulgaria 
 
 ..29 
 
 In Spain 
 
 ..30 
 
 In California 
 
 74, 80, 84 
 
 In Cape of Good Hope 
 
 ..113 
 
 Remedies — 
 
 
 Bisulphide of carbon 
 
 15, 41, 76 
 
 Sulpho-carbonate of potassium 
 
 ..17 
 
 Kerosene emulsion 
 
 ..12 
 
 Ditto (formula:) 
 
 ..129 
 
 Submersion 
 
 41, 110 
 
 Sulphur 
 
 ..107 
 
 Ongerth's powder 
 
 ..54 
 
 .Nature's remedies 
 
 ..85 
 
 Conditions of Soil fob Treatment 
 
 ..19 
 
 Grafting, etc. 
 
 89, 124 
 
 Manuring 
 
 ..20 
 
 Resistant Stocks (American) 
 
 . . 21, 36, 39, 71, 82, 122 
 
 Soils adapted for ditto 
 
 8 
 
 Experimental Nurseries 
 
 92, 54, 114 
 
PHYLLOXEBA, ETC. 
 
 PAET I. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE AGENT-GENERAL. 
 
 EUROPE, ETC. 
 
 The Hon. the Minister of Lanbs to the Agent-General. 
 Memorandum for the Agent-General. 
 Immigration Department, 
 
 Wellington, 11th July, 1890. 
 Phylloxera having been discovered in some of the vine- 
 yards north of Auckland, it has become necessary to ob- 
 tain reliable information as to the best remedies to be used 
 for its eradication. The Government will accordingly be 
 obliged if you will be good enough to cause inquiries to 
 be made in France and other European countries in which 
 the disease has made its appearance, as to what steps have 
 been taken for dealing with it. Any information you 
 may be able to obtain as to the methods employed and 
 their respective valnes would be of service to vine-grower* 
 in this colony. 
 
 (>. F. Richardson, 
 
 Minister of Lands. 
 
 Memorandum from the Agent-General to the Hon. the 
 
 Minister of Lands. 
 
 Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, 
 
 London, S.W., 31st August, 1890. 
 
 Phylloxera. — With reference to the Hon. Minister's 
 
 memorandum of the 11th July, No. 34, respecting the ap- 
 
pearance of phylloxera in some of the vineyards north of 
 Auckland, the great difficulty lies in the fact that the mass_ 
 of reports and schemes .for dealing with that disease mi 
 European countries is so enormous that no one except the 
 most skilled experts could say what would be likely to be 
 useful to New Zealand vine-growers. I will, however, do^ 
 all I can to obtain authentic particulars of what is being 
 ■done in Europe to arrest the progress of the disease on 
 this side of the world. 
 
 P. D. Bell. 
 
 The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister of Lands, 
 
 Westminster Chambers, 
 13 Victoria Street, London, S.W., 
 _ 30th September, 1890. 
 
 Since receiving your instructions of the 11th July 
 on the subject of phylloxera, steps have been taken for' 
 collecting the most recent information of a trustworthy 
 kind. I have been in communication with Miss Ormerod, 
 and have asked the Government of France, the Agricultural 
 Department at Washington,, and the Cape Government, to 
 let me have the best information in their possession. I 
 have also read with care a large number of reports, &c, 
 upon the results hitherto obtained in various countries in 
 the endeavour to arrest the ravages of the pest ; and in due 
 course sufficient material will be in your hands for the 
 service of New Zealand vine-growers. 
 
 In the meanwhile I am endeavouring to bring together 
 the leading conclusions of the best-known experts, so as, 
 if possible, to represent these in some intelligible shape 
 likely to be of use to our people. So vast, however, is the 
 mass of literature about phylloxera, that to sift it in order 
 to find out what would really be of service to a countrv 
 like New Zealand must entail much labour ; nevertheless 
 
3 
 
 it is hardly likely that a prolonged examination could 
 materially alter what may be said/ even now, upon a, few 
 main points specially applicable to the North of Auckland 
 /vineyards, and these I will try to .describe in an early 
 letter. I have, &c,, 
 
 P. D. Bell. 
 The Hpn. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. 
 
 Memorandum from the Agent-General to the Hon. the 
 Minister of Lands. 
 
 Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, 
 London, S.W., 1st November, 1890. 
 Phylloxera. — I received yesterday from Professor Riley, 
 of the Agricultural Department at Washington, a long 
 letter on the subject of phylloxera. There has not been 
 time to get this copied for to-day's post, but it will go to 
 the Hon. Minister by the next mail. 
 
 P. D. Bell. 
 
 The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. 
 
 7 Westminster Chambers,, 13 Victoria Street, 
 g London, S.W., 14th November, 1890. 
 
 My letter of the 30th September, No. 1,348, on the 
 subject of phylloxera, mentioned that, although I had been 
 endeavouring to bring together the leading conclusions of 
 the best experts, it did not appear likely that any prolonged 
 examination would materially alter what could even then 
 have been said upon points specially applicable to the North 
 of Auckland, or, indeed, what could have been said since 
 the years 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, and 1885, when I sent 
 you a series of papers on the subject. 
 
 I have now received a most valuable and interesting 
 report from Professor C. V. Riley, the well-known ento- 
 
mologist of tKe United States Department of Agriculture, 
 and the French Government have also been kind enough 
 to send the report upon the Service of the Phylloxera for 
 the years 1888 and 1889. These papers are now going to 
 you herewith, and contain the latest and most authentic 
 information of what has been done to arrest the ravages of 
 the pest. Professor Riley's letter is so lucid and complete 
 that it is quite unnecessary to add anything to it ; but, in 
 the case of the French report, I append some notes which 
 summarise its leading points for more ready reference : and 
 I have also added a few notes of what has been done at 
 the Cape. Professor Riley will in a short, time complete 
 the report he is writing in the character of Expert Com- 
 missioner on Group VIII. at the Paris Exhibition; but 
 his letter is a condensation from that report of the 
 means now commonly employed against the phylloxera in 
 Europe. 
 
 After twenty years' tests of innumerable remedies pro- 
 posed in Europe, most of which have proved to be valueless, 
 they are now confined to (1) methods to avoid the necessity 
 of direct treatment, and (2) the employment of insecticides. 
 
 Professor Riley describes both methods, and gives practi- 
 cal instruction as to their application. 
 
 I have conveyed the thanks of the Government to him 
 for the service that he has rendered to New Zealand. 
 
 I note from recent Press extracts that in response to 
 your request the Viticultural Commission of California has 
 sent you a report on the steps taken in that State ; and I 
 assume .that you will already have received a series of 
 reports and documents which the Agent-General for the 
 Cape, Sir Charles Mills, was good enough to ask his 
 Government to send to you direct. 
 
 I trust that the information contained in the accompany- 
 ing papers will be found serviceable to vine-growers in New 
 Zealand. I have, &c., 
 
 F. D. Bell. 
 
 The Hon. the Minister of Lands, Wellington. 
 
Enclosure 1. 
 
 U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
 Division of Entomology, 
 n-A,, <? Washington, D.C., 16th October, 1890. 
 
 Your letter of the 26th September, relating to the 
 phylloxera in New Zealand, has just come to hand. . My 
 own official writings on the phylloxera are the chief pub- 
 lications of an original character that have appeared in 
 this country. They are chiefly contained in the fourth, 
 fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth reports on the insects of 
 Missouri, published during the years 1871—76. I should 
 be glad to supply you with copies , of these reports, but 
 unfortunately they are entirely out of print, and the 
 second-hand booksellers, when they get a full set, ask 
 about $40 for them. I think, if you atithorise me to do 
 so I can secure a set for less. Many of my later writings 
 on this subject have been published in the agricultural and 
 scientific journals of this country, and are not now obtain- 
 able. Several short articles have appeared, in my reports 
 as Entomologist in the reports of the Department of Agri- 
 culture. The more important of these are contained in the 
 reports for 1878, pages 237, 238, and that for 1884> pages 
 405—409 ; the latter consisting of copies of letters in which 
 the general subject of the life-history of the phylloxera 
 is treated, together with the ways in which the phylloxera 
 is imported or carried from one country to another, and 
 the means for preventing such importations. The report 
 for 1884 has been sent to your address ; the other is out of 
 print, but you may be able to refer to it, and also to my 
 Missouri reports, in some of the scientific or general libra- 
 ries, of London. 
 
 In the periodical bulletin of this division, Insect Life, 
 vol. ii., Nos. 7 and 8, pages 221, 222, the question of submer- 
 sion, one of the most valuable means against the phylloxera, 
 is quoted at length from my sixth report on the insects of 
 Missouri, in a letter in answer to a circular from the 
 
Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, asking for the bearings 
 of the proposed irrigation of our western lands upon the 
 problems comprised by the work of the division. In 
 No. 10 of the same volume, pages 310, 311, is given a 
 general statement of the phylloxera problem abroad, in 
 which statistics are given showing the amount of re-, 
 established vineyards by means of the use of the principal 
 remedies, such as bisulphide of carbon, sulpho-carbonate 
 of potassium, and submersion'. Copies of the numbers of 
 Ifisect Life containing these articles are forwarded to you. 
 
 The 'phylloxera question has not been so important in 
 this country as in Europe, and particularly in France, on 
 account of the comparative freedom of most American 
 vines, owirig to their resistant power, from the attacks of 
 this insect ; and consequently the literature on the subject 
 in this country' is limited. The only publications on the 
 subject that are for sale by booksellers' are short accounts, 
 which have been largely compiled from my own writings, 
 in a number of general works on injurious insects. In 
 Europe, however, and notably in France, the literature 
 relating to the phylloxera is very voluminous: Important 
 publications are the reports of the Superior Phylloxera 
 Commission of France, and the special works of J. E. 
 PlaUchon, J. Lichtenstein, Max Cornu, and Balbiani. You 
 will also find a very good short account of this pest, 
 together with the most approved remedies now employed 
 in France, in Valery Mayet's work " Les Insectes de la 
 Vigne," published in Paris by Georges Masson, 120, Boule- 
 vard Saint Germain. 
 
 I have recently had occasion to write a long letter to 
 Mr. R. Allan Wight, of New Zealand, on this subject 
 which will doubtless be published in the agricultural 
 journals of New Zealand. It deals, however, chiefly with 
 the subject of the use of resistant American stocks and 
 was condensed from a general article on grape-culture in 
 France winch will appear in my report as Expert Commis- 
 sioner on Group VIII. at the late Paris Exposition. I have 
 
condensed from the same report a brief general account of 
 the means now commonly employed against the phylloxera 
 in Europe, which follows, and which I trust will be of 
 service to you. 
 
 Up. tor the present time' no more practical and effective 
 means of combating the phylloxera has been discovered 
 than prevention by the use of resistant American stocks. 
 
 During the twenty years' struggle in Prance against 
 this insect, innumerable remedies have been proposed, 
 most of which have proved to be absolutely valueless. 
 
 A few measures have been devised, however, which, under 
 proper conditions, give fairly satisfactory results. These 
 consist in (1) methods which avoid the necessity of direct 
 treatment, comprising the use of American stocks, and 
 planting in sandy soils ; and 1 (2) the employment of insecti- 
 cides (the kerosene emulsion, bisulphide of carbon, sulpho- 
 carbonate of potassium), and submersion. 
 
 It was early found in the history of phylloxera that the 
 American grapes, or varieties derived from the wild species 
 of America, resisted, or were little subject to> the attacks 
 of the root form (radidcola) of the phylloxera, although 
 the leaf-gall form {gallicola) — which, in point of fact, does 
 little, if any, damage — occurs in greater numbers on many 
 of our wild and cultivated sorts than on the European grape T 
 vines, which are derived altogether from the single species 
 Vitis vinifera, and which are so exceedingly subject to the 
 attacks of the root-form. The use of American sorts as 
 stocks upon which to cultivate the susceptible European 
 varieties has increased enormously in the past few years, 
 and bids fair to supersede all other methods against the 
 phylloxera. Without: going into a lengthy discussion of 
 the subject of wild American species, those of practical im- 
 portance to the vineyardist are the following : V. (Bstivalis, 
 V. riparia, and V. labrusca. 
 
 The varieties derived from V- astivalis are of value for 
 their fruit, and are also easily propagated from cuttings, 
 and are very commonly used in France as stocks. The 
 
most important varieties are Jacquez, Herbemont, Black 
 July, and Cunningham. The varieties of Vitis riparia 
 {both wild and cultivated) are, on account of their special 
 fitness, almost exclusively employed in Prance as resistant 
 stocks, for which they easily take,,first rank. The varieties 
 used are : first, the wild forms ; and, second, the cultivated 
 varieties, Solonis, Clinton, and Taylor. 
 
 Cuttings and seeds of the wild varieties are imported 
 into France in large quantities from our central States. Of 
 the cultivated varieties the Clinton was one of the first vines 
 tried for this purpose, and has been extensively used, with 
 fair satisfaction. Next to this variety ranks the Solonis, 
 which, however, is valueless for any other purpose on ac- 
 count of the acidity of its grapes. 
 
 The different varieties of Vitis labrusca are less resistant 
 to the phylloxera than those above mentioned. Certain 
 varieties have, however, been grown successfully in France: 
 and of these the Concord has given much the best results ; 
 but others — Isabella and Catawba, for example — succumb 
 to the root-louse. 
 
 Of the many valuable hybrids obtained from the Ameri- 
 can species of Vitis which are serviceable as stocks, the 
 more important are the Elvira, Noah, and Viala. The last- 
 named, perhaps, of all the resistant varieties, gives the 
 greatest percentage of successful grafts, and is admirably 
 adapted for grafting on cuttings. 
 
 Early in the study of the subject it was found that the 
 nature of the soil had a very marked influence on the 
 success of the different sorts named as stocks. The subject 
 has now been quite fully investigated in France, and the 
 latest researches are formulated by the Experimental School 
 at Montpellier in the statement quoted below, which will be 
 of interest as giving the various classes of soils, together with 
 the American vines best adapted to each : 
 
 "1. New, deep, fertile soils: Riparia (tomentous and 
 glabrous), Jacquez, Solonis, Viala, Taylor, and Cunning- 
 ham. 
 
" 2. Deep soils, somewhat strong, not wet : Jacqiiez, 
 Riparia, Solonis, Cunningham, Viala, Taylor. 
 
 " 3. Deep soils of medium consistency, new, and not dry 
 in summer : Riparia, Jacquez, Solonis, Viala, Taylor, Black 
 July. 
 
 "4. Light pebbly soils, deep, well drained and not too 
 dry in summer : Jacquez, Riparia (wild), Taylor, Rupestris. 
 
 "5. Calcareous soils, with subsoil shallow, or granitic : 
 Solonis, Rupestris. 
 
 " 6. Argillaceous soils, white or grey : Cunningham. 
 
 " 7. Argillaceous soils, deep, and very wet : V. cineria. 
 
 "8. Deep, sandy, fertile soils: Riparia (wild), Solonis,* 
 Jacquez, Cunningham, Black July, Rupestris. 
 
 " 9. Light pebbly soils, dry and barren : Rupestris, York, 
 Madeira, Riparia (wild). 
 
 " 10. Deep soils with a tufa base, and salt lands : Solonis. 
 
 "11. Soils formed of debris of tufa, but sufficiently deep • 
 Taylor. 
 
 " 12. Ferruginous soils, containing red pebbles of silica, 
 deep, and somewhat strong, well drained, but fresh in 
 summer : All the varieties indicated, and, in addition, 
 Herbemont, Clinton, Cynthiana, Marion, Concord, Herman." 
 
 The resistance of vines planted in sand attracted the 
 attention of vine-culturists at the very beginning of the 
 phylloxera investigation in France, and was noted by me in 
 my earlier writings. It will not be necessary in this place 
 to discuss the reasons for the immunity of vines planted in 
 sand. The resistance is proportionate to the percentage of 
 sand in the soil, vines resisting perfectly in pure sand, and 
 with diminished power as the percentage of clay increases. 
 Such plantings have proved extremely successful, though 
 limited in area, and such culture may be practised either in 
 the alluvia] sands near the mouths of rivers, or near the 
 borders of the sea-shore. 
 
 Of direct measures against the phylloxera, the use of 
 bisulphide of carbon has been most successful in France. 
 In general, the bisulphide of carbon should be applied at 
 
10 
 
 the first sign of the presence of the phylloxera; and maybe 
 successfully used at any season of the year. Following treat- 
 ment, there is> in the growing period, always a slight check- 
 ing in the growth of the roots and leaves ; and if made at 
 the time of blooming, or just before the ripening of the 
 fruit (vertfisafriy this may result disastrously to the crop. 
 Applications at the periods named are therefore generally 
 avoided^ 
 
 The treatment consists in introducing into the soil about 
 the vines a certain quantity of the bisulphide, either by means 
 of injectors or ploughs, or by diluting the bisulphide in water 
 and thoroughly wetting the soil about- the vines with the 
 resulting mixture. The great volatility of the bisulphide 
 enables it to reach the minute roots, and the liee quickly 
 succumb. 
 
 The best apparatus for the purpose is the Pal-injector, 
 invented "by Gastine, and perfected by V. Vermorel; of 
 Villefr ancle, France. 
 
 The number of injections to the square metre will vary, 
 a large number of small doses being always preferable to a 
 few large ones. The general practice is to make from two- 
 to three injections to the square metre in light or medium 
 soils, and four in heavy clay soils. 
 
 Injection with bisulphide is also accomplished by the use 
 of ploughs or traction injectors, which make a continuous 
 cut into the soil, and inject into it a certain amount of the 
 liquid. These are applicable to extensive vineyards, which 
 are regularly arranged in rows. Good machines for this 
 work are made by Vermorel and Beziers. 
 
 With these traction injectors the lines of injection are 
 commonly separated about one metre. In the case of vines 
 planted in rows separated by one metre, or but little more, 
 one passage of the injector between them is considered 
 sufficient ; where the distance between the rows is from. H 
 to 2 metres, two lines of injection are made. 
 
 The amount of bisulphide employed per acre ranges from 
 150 to 240 kilos. 
 
11 
 
 The use of the bisulphide not only to control the phyl- 
 loxera, but to entirely exterminate it by destroying the in- 
 fested vines, and lice, at the same time, kntiwn as the 
 treatment d' extinction, was first made in Switzerland, and 
 more recently in Germany, Russia, and Algeria. In 
 Switzerland 300 grammes of the bisulphide! was applied to 
 each vine in two doses of' 150 grammes each, at an interval 
 of twelve days. The vines are Mlled ninety-nine times out 
 of one hundred. 
 
 No vines are again planted for five years. The expense 
 of the application, and the resulting loss to the vineyardist, is 
 in part met by the Government. The success of the radical 
 treatment is seen in the comparative freedom of the coun- 
 tries named from the phylloxera. 
 
 The bisulphide of carbon is also used diluted with water, 
 and applied in quantity directly on the surface of the 
 ground, in small openings dug out at the base of the vines. 
 This method requires extensive and costly machinery to 
 combine the bisulphide with water and distribute it to the 
 different parts of the vineyard; and the large quantity of 
 water required restricts its use to the vicinity of streams or 
 abundant water-supplies. 
 
 Sulpho-carbonate of potassium is also employed, and lias 
 to recommend it the fact of its being at once a fertiliser 
 and an insecticide of considerable value. Under the 
 action of air and moisture, the substance decomposes 
 into carbonates valuable as fertilisers, and bisulphide of 
 cdrbon.. 
 
 The sulpho-carbonate is employed in the liquid state, 
 and is diluted in a quantity of water sufficient to saturate 
 the soil containing the roots of the vine. The great 
 quantity of water thus rendered necessary is the chief 
 objection to the treatment, and 1 has doubtless prevented its 
 more extended employment. 
 
 The application is made in winter, after the vines have 
 been pruned, at which period it is easy to get at the vines, 
 and also there is little danger of injury from the bi- 
 
12 
 
 sulphide. A second application is, however, recommended 
 in July in the case of vines severely attacked. ,,; 
 
 This substance is applied, as in the case of the, diluted 
 bisulphide of carbon, in small basins about the vines, at the 
 rate of 40 to 50 grammes per square metre, mixed with 10 
 to 15 litres of water. 
 
 A substance not yet appreciated in France, on account 
 of its relative high cost there, is the kerosene emulsion. 
 There may be the same difficulties as to the cost in New , 
 Zealand. But a number of years ago I had a series of ex- 
 periments made with the kerosene emulsion, of which the 
 formula is now well known, and it proved wonderfully satis- 
 factory. Subsequent experiments, and some recently made in 
 California, are most favourable, and confirmatory of its effi- 
 cacy. Indeed, I consider it the most satisfactory direct 
 remedy against the phylloxera which we have, and its use 
 in the place of sulpho-carbonate of potassium is only a 
 question of relative cost and convenience. I take the 
 liberty of adding in this connection a translation of an 
 address which I delivered in 1884 before the Central 
 Society of the Department of Herault, at a meeting called 
 in my honour : — 
 
 " So far I have spoken to you of insecticides gene- 
 rally used above the ground. Of subterranean insecti- 
 cides, those which have produced most satisfactory results 
 with us up to the present time against root-insects are the 
 ■sulpho-carbonate of potassium, carbon-bisulphide, and 
 naphthaline. With these you are familiar, and nearly all 
 that we know of them we have learned from you. But, 
 knowing the efficacy of kerosene as an insecticide for in- 
 sects above ground, I conceived the idea some time ago of 
 trying its value against certain underground species, and 
 especially against the phylloxera. I have been surprised 
 and delighted with the results which I have obtained, and, 
 without wishing to fatigue you with the details of the 
 carefully-conducted experiments which I have carried on 
 at Washington, and which are still being continued, I may 
 
13 
 
 say that I am firmly convinced that we have in the kero- 
 sene emulsion a remedy against underground insects which 
 — at least, in America — is superior to the other insecticides 
 of which I have just spoken. 
 
 " Diluted only by two or three times its volume of 
 water, this emulsion has no injurious effect upon the roots 
 of vines (being really beneficial), but destroys the phylloxera, 
 and (what is still more important) kills the eggs even when 
 in weak solution. 
 
 " The use of this insecticide is absolutely without 
 danger, and its influence lasts a long time in the soil. 
 
 " I performed my experiments for the most part in my 
 laboratory, in order to carry them out with the greatest 
 care, and I desire at the present time to simply recommend 
 this process to your attention, as I am firmly convinced 
 that, other things being equal, it will be found best to em- 
 ploy it. You will be as agreeably surprised as I was my- 
 self at the perfect efficacy of so simple a remedy. At 
 present, the best proportion, the price, the best instruments 
 to employ, and the best methods of application, are among 
 the questions which experience alone can solve, for they 
 depend upon the nature of the soil, the meteorological con- 
 ditions, and even the individual circumstances. 
 
 " Neither have I for a moment the idea of giving you 
 advice upon this subject, since you are much more advanced 
 than we are in the study of injectors, sulphur-ploughs, 
 and the different instruments for subterranean injection of 
 sulphides, sulphates, and other insecticides. I simply re- 
 commend a remedy which you have not yet tried in France, 
 convinced that it is less dangerous than bisulphide of 
 carbon, and more efficacious than sulpho-carbonate of 
 potassium, and that, instead of injuring the roots of your 
 vines, it will rather prove to be a fertiliser; since the most 
 surprising thing in my experience has been the favourable 
 influence which this emulsion has upon the roots, in causing 
 the disappearance of the dead, or' brown, bark, and strongly 
 accelerating the putting-forth of new rootlets. Its prac- 
 
,14 
 
 tical use #; similar to that of tb.e suipho-carbonates, with 
 this difference,, perhaps : ,that it is necessary to use 
 three or four times as much of the emulsion as of the 
 sulpho-carhonates in the same quantity of water — i.e., 
 300 or -100 grammes of emulsion fp.r 40 litres of water. 
 
 "To conclude, the. principle once .known,. I am convinced 
 by what I have seen of your experimental school that you 
 will soon become familiar with #11 the details of the. appli- 
 cation. It will be with this question of petroleum emul- 
 sion as it was with the resistant American vines, which I 
 indicated fourteen years ago, and which to-day you know 
 as well as, and even better than, we do, from your study and 
 experience. Jf the Jacquez in the south, the Othello in 
 the west, and the Triumph in the interior best resist the 
 phylloxera, and are the best adapted to the soil and the 
 climate of the, respective regions, it is an experience which 
 could not have been had for you in, their original home. 
 
 "In this connection I could not enter with any profit 
 to you upon questions of economy in the use of these 
 substances, for I know that the best remedy for America 
 is not necessarily the best remedy for France : still, I give 
 you my views for what they are worth. 
 
 " I do not come, gentlemen, to pose as the infallible 
 saviour of your vineyards ; I come simply as a devoted 
 ■colleague, to say to you it seems to me that you can, or 
 that we can, succeed in this way. I bring you my ideas 
 and the fruit of my experience ; I ask for yours for the 
 benefit of the United States : and we will strive together 
 to become the conquerors in our long struggle against our 
 little enemies." 
 
 On the subject of submersion it may be said in general 
 that this is an infallible method of destroying the phyl- 
 loxera, and should always be practised where feasible, un- 
 less wse is made of resistant stocks, or in vineyards planted 
 in the sands. 
 
 All soils are not equally suited to submersion. It is 
 necessary that they be neither too compact nor too loose. 
 
15- 
 
 The best results are obtained when the soil is such as to 
 allow penetration by the water in twenty-four hours of 
 from 1 to 5 centim. If the water reaches a depth in this 
 time of 8 to 10 centim., the quantity of water required is 
 so great as to render its application impracticable. 
 
 Submersion may be practised at any season of the year, 
 but it is the general custom to make the application in 
 -winter, to avoid the check of the vine by submersion in 
 the growing season. The vineyard should be given one or 
 more .treatments yearly. 
 
 Grapes subject to cxyptogamic diseases should never be 
 inundated. Comparatively level ground only can be 
 treated in this way, and should be laid off in squares or 
 rectangles, with embankments to retain the water. Where 
 it is possible to introduce the water by means of canals or 
 by irrigation, the process is easy and comparatively cheap. 
 The greater part of the submersion in France, however, is 
 made by the use of centrifugal steam-pumps. 
 
 I hope that this rather extended letter may not prove 
 uninteresting to you ; and, regretting that I cannot go into 
 the subject more in detail, believe me, &c. 
 
 Sir F. D. Bell, K.C.M.G., C.B., 
 
 Agent^General for New Zealand. 
 
 Enclosure 2. 
 
 Practical Instructions on the Treatment by Sulphide 
 of Carbon, by Messieurs Marion, Couanon, and 
 Gtastine (France). 
 
 1. Doses of Sulphide of Carbon. 
 Sulphide of carbon is a transparent liquid, without 
 colour, and extremely inflammable. It vaporises rapidly, 
 and under certain conditions is explosive. It must there- 
 fore be manipulated with many precautions. Besides, the 
 odour is so strong and so characteristic that the least 
 quantity of vapour shows itself. 
 
16 
 
 When sulphide of carbon is introduced into the soil it 
 vaporises in mixing with the air contained in the particles 
 of the soil, and these vapours hare enough force to pene- 
 trate far from the point where they first took place, mean- 
 while destroying any insects which they meet. Scientific 
 experiments, the result of which have been confirmed by 
 many observers, have enabled the range of these vapours to 
 be determined according to the doses employed, the dura- 
 tion of their persistence in the soil, and their relative 
 insecticide-power. These data, and those concerning the 
 resistance of the vine itself to various doses, have regu- 
 lated the rules of application of sulphide of carbon to 
 phylloxerated vines. 
 
 The quantities of sulphide of carbon which should be 
 employed per hectare vary according to the depth and the 
 state of permeability of the soil. No account meed be 
 taken of the state of the vine, as to whether it is old or 
 young, vigorous or enfeebled, in determining the doses to 
 be used. In every case the object is to attack the insect 
 at the roots, and to obtain as complete an insecticide effect 
 as possible. For this it is indispensable that the whole 
 mass of the soil should be impregnated, as completely, 
 uniformly, and rapidly as possible, by the vapours of the 
 sulphide, sufficient to render the atmosphere underground 
 unrespirable by the insect. The dose is the same for 
 killing one or thousands of phylloxera, so that the viti- 
 culturist must not make the doses any different for a field 
 in which he supposes that there only exist very few 
 insects than for one which is entirely invaded. The di- 
 minution of doses can only have the effect of employing 
 uselessly a product which can only have a sufficient in- 
 secticide energy if used in proper quantities. 
 
 The minimum of sulphide to employ is 20 grammes per 
 square metre, or 200 kilogrammes per hectare. Less than 
 this quantity, even under the most favourable conditions of 
 the soil, will not insure proper treatment. It is even de- 
 sirable, in soils of an average depth, to increase the dose 
 
17 
 
 to 240 or to 250 kilogrammes. This is the dose, in fact, 
 which answers best in the majority of vineyards ; and for 
 deep soils one ought not to hesitate to increase the 
 dose even to 300 kilogrammes. The reason will be easily 
 understood for this augmentation, since the object is to 
 impregnate a greater depth of soil occupied by the roots 
 and by the parasites. 
 
 In the determination of the proper dose of sulphide of 
 carbon, account must be taken not only of the depth of 
 the soil, but also of the permeability both of it and of the 
 subsoil in which the roots penetrate. Light and permeable 
 soils contain more air than others, so that in order to 
 impregnate them completely with toxical vapours a higher 
 dose of insecticide is necessary. On the other hand, some 
 subsoils are more favourable to a uniform distribution of 
 these vapours. When the soil is at once permeable and 
 deep, and the subsoil is one in which the roots penetrate 
 easily, the maximum doses of sulphide ought to be ap- 
 plied. Vines submitted to too feeble a treatment remain 
 each year under the influence of the parasite^ which is not 
 sufficiently attacked. 
 
 2. Distribution of Sulphide of Carbon. 
 
 Sulphide is applied by divers instruments — by Pal- 
 injectors or by traction injectors. The Pal-injectors dis- 
 tribute the sulphide. by small doses, injected in holes which 
 are regularly made in the soil ; the traction injectors dis- 
 tribute the insecticide in furrows traced by the ploughshare. 
 
 The soil of a vineyard is occupied entirely by roots, 
 which cross each other and form a continuous network, 
 even where the vines are planted in lines leaving between 
 them large spaces reserved for other cultivation. It is 
 therefore necessary to inject the sulphide uniformly 
 throughout the soil ; and the doses must be calculated 
 proportionately to the whole surface of the vineyard, what- 
 ever may be the method of plantation, and whatever may 
 be the age of the vines. 
 
18 
 
 When, as is most often done, the treatment is by the 
 Pal-ihjectpr, the disposition of the holes of injection should 
 vary with the different modes of plantation, because the 
 lines of vines serve as an indication for the distribution of 
 the holes. They are placed at equal distances one from 
 the other, in regular alternation as on a chessboard, so as 
 to produce a uniform impregnation of the soil. The 
 number of holes of injection must never be less than two 
 per square metre. With less holes in that surface, the 
 diffusion of the insecticide vapours cannot be insured, 
 even in very permeable soils. In general, an augments* 
 tion of the number of holes, and a proportionate reduction 
 in each, favours a good saturation of the soil. When the 
 soil is. not deep, it is indispensable to augment the number 
 of holes, to compensate the waste of vapours towards the 
 atmosphere. The same augmentation is necessary for soils 
 that are only slightly permeable. In general an average 
 of three holes per square metre represents the most con- 
 venient disposition ; but in the case of compact soils 
 there should be four holes to the same surface. The depth 
 of the holes of injection ought to be twenty-five to 
 thirty centimetres. The holes must be carefully covered 
 over. 
 
 The dose for each hole ought to vary according to the 
 number of the holes and according to the quantity of 
 sulphide which is to be distributed per hectare. Suppose, 
 for example, that 240 kilogrammes are to be employed per 
 hectare, and that three holes are to be made per square metre; 
 then the injector must be regulated so as to give a dose of 
 eight grammes at each stroke of the piston. It is always 
 necessary to verify during the work whether the action of 
 the injector is quite regular, and to take care that the 
 apparatus is in a condition to insure accurate action. 
 
 The principles which regulate the application of sulphide 
 of carbon by traction injectors are the same. In that 
 case the distribution of the insecticide takes place by the 
 regular displacement of the furrows traced along the vines. 
 
19 
 
 These lines of distribution ought not to be distant more 
 than one metre from each other. 
 
 "With this mode of application of the sulphide it would 
 not be possible to attain, without injuring the roots a 
 depth of from twenty-five to thirty centimetres, at which 
 depth the sulphide is to be deposited. It is not possible to 
 descend with traction injectors below fifteen to eighteen 
 centimetres ; it is therefore necessary to compensate the 
 more rapid waste of vapours by an augmentation of the 
 dose to about 25 to 30 per cent, over the quantities above 
 indicated. This waste is of course diminished by taking 
 care to make the return of the soil over the lines of injec- 
 tion as complete as possible. It may be taken for granted 
 that any want of success in the regeneration or the main- 
 tenance of a vineyard will follow whenever traction in- 
 jectors have been employed without taking these precau- 
 tions. 
 
 3. Conditions of the Soil favourable to Treatment. 
 
 The treatment ought never to be applied after plough- 
 ing or digging, because when the soil is lifted the vapours 
 of the sulphide escape towards the atmosphere without 
 producing their proper effect ; and for the same reason it 
 is necessary to wait about fifteen days after treatment be- 
 fore any cultivation of the land. 
 
 When the soil is either very wet or very dry the treat- 
 ment ought to be delayed. 
 
 The most favourable conditions for treatment to insure 
 the best distribution of the vapours of sulphide, and their 
 persistence in the soil, are those of a soil slightly humid, 
 permeable, but close on the surface, and forming a crust 
 after the action of rain. In these cases excellent results 
 can be obtained, even in strong soils, which are the most 
 difficult to defend. In light and permeable soils the treat- 
 ment can be effected at any time of year. 
 
 It is essential not to leave the vines long under the 
 influence of an attack of phylloxera. To obtain good 
 
20 
 
 results the invasion ought to be treated at once, and before' 
 the vines show any enfeeblement. The vineyard must be 
 treated in its totality — it would be useless to inject the 
 sulphide only where spots are seen; and the treatment 
 must he renewed every year. 
 
 In the southern vineyards of France the extreme dryness 
 of the soil and the great development of shoots at the 
 beginning, of summer are an obstacle to operations during 
 that season, and the treatment in autumn, winter, or 
 spring is the easiest and most efficacious. On the other, 
 hand, in most of the other viticultural regions the rains of 
 autumn and winter frequently prevent the work, and it is 
 easier in spring or summer. Summer treatment, instead 
 of being only done once, requires two applications, succeeding 
 each other at an interval of from four to six days, half the 
 dose being employed each time which would have been 
 injected by a single treatment. The advantage of reiterated 
 treatment is that it maintains during a longer time the 
 parasites under the action of the toxical vapours. It is 
 therefore essential that the interval between the first and 
 the second injection should be short. 
 
 ~i. Manuring. 
 
 The vine, like every other plant, requires manures to 
 replace in the soil the elements which the crop takes away. 
 Ordinary manures are sufficient for vines which have not 
 been already greatly attacked by the phylloxera, and when 
 the insecticide treatment is adopted without delay; but 
 when the roots have been already partly destroyed by the 
 parasite, reparatory and supplementary manuring is impera- 
 tively required, so as to favour a rapid reconstitution. 
 Experience has shown that the applications of sulphide of 
 carbon, if made with care, method, and persistence, bring 
 back enfeebled vines into complete production, and main- 
 tain in full value vineyards which have been treated imme- 
 diately on the appearance of the phylloxera. 
 
21 
 
 Enclosure 3. 
 
 Summary of the Report of M. Tisseranp, Councillor of 
 State and Director of Agriculture, to the Superior 
 Commission of the Phylloxera, in 1890. 
 In 1888 and 1889 the phylloxera has appeared in three 
 new departments, and an attack has heen recognised for 
 the first time in eleven subdivisions . In addition to the 
 treatment applied directly by the State, the Minister of 
 Agriculture has continued to give subsidies to the 
 departments and communes which have devoted money 
 for the defence of their vineries. The State sub- 
 sidy in 1888 amounted to 181,0Q0fr., and in 1889 to 
 194vQ0Qfr. 
 
 In the meantime individual efforts have not been 
 .diminished. The defensive steps taken extend over 100,000 
 hectares : by submersion, 30,000 hectares ; by sulphide of 
 carbon, 58,000 hectares ; and by sulpho-carbonate of potas- 
 sium, 9,000 hectares. These figures prove the value of 
 the insecticides, which have preserved many 'important 
 vineyards. A number of syndicates were formed in 1888 
 in various departments, embracing upwards of 21,000 pro- 
 prietors, with an average of rather more than one acre to 
 each. In 1889, 681 syndicates were subsidised : these 
 comprised 21,687 proprietors, with nearly 24,C00 hectares 
 of vines, to which the maximum allocation of 25fr. per 
 hectare was granted. 
 
 The energy shown for the conservation of the existing 
 vineyards has also increased with regard to the reconstitu- 
 tion of the destroyed surfaces. The course which the 
 Superior Cornmission has followed for more than six years 
 continues to be confirmed. The extent of reconstituted 
 vines by American varieties progresses with so great a 
 rapidity that the time will be not far distant when the 
 vineyards will occupy a .superficies of area at least equal to 
 that which they covered before the appearance of the 
 pest. 
 
2.2 
 
 The total of American vines planted was — 
 
 In 1881 8,904 hectares/ in 17 departments: 
 
 „ 1882 17,096 „ 22 
 
 „ 1883 28,012 „ 28 
 
 „ 1884 52,777 „ 34 
 
 „ 1885 75,292 „ 34 
 
 „ 1886 110,787 „ 37 
 
 „ 1887 165,517 „ 38 
 
 „ 1888 214,787 „ 43 
 And in 1889 
 
 there were 299,801 „ 44 
 
 Thus there has been an attg mentation of nearly 100,000 
 hectares during the last campaign. If this reconstitution 
 goes on in the same progression, in jour years France, whose 
 vineyards are already the greatest in the world — viz., 
 1,838,000 hectares — will cover 2,600,000 hectares, or a 
 greater area than has ever been. The departments which 
 hold the first rank in this work of reconstitution are — the 
 Herault, with 110,000 hectares : the Au be, with 27,000; the 
 Gard, with 24,000 ; the Gironde, with 19,000 ; the Eastern 
 Pyrenees, with 30,000 ; and the Var, with 19,000. 
 
 While incessant experiments are being made with the 
 view of obtaining the best results by hybridation, the mass 
 of our viticulturists endeavour to conserve the Frenchvines 
 by grafting. Nurseries and fields of experiment have 
 already existed in many departments, and their number is 
 increasing. Professors of Agriculture have established 
 schools of grafting, comprising numerous pupils, and the 
 Government has largely increased, by subsidies and medals, 
 the organization of these schools. 
 
 As in the past, the Government has not grudged sub- 
 sidies in aid of the reconstitution of vineyards by means 
 of resistant vines ; and, in addition to the direct subsidies 
 under the special head of " Phylloxera," an additional stimu- 
 lant has been given by the law of 1887, which relieved during 
 four years from land-tax lands which were newly planted or 
 
23 
 
 replanted in vines in the departments which had been ravaged 
 by the pest. In 1888 the benefit of that law was received 
 by 4,270 communes, covering 108,000 acres ; and this allow- 
 ance of tax amounted to l,600,000fr., being 480,000fr. more 
 than the sum expended in the year for the whole Service of 
 the Phylloxera. 
 
 During the five years that have elapsed since the 
 phylloxera appeared in Algeria, the invasion has been 
 localised, thanks to the energetic measures pursued. The 
 defence has exacted great sacrifices ; but these cannot be 
 regretted in presence of the results obtained, and of. the 
 constantly increasing extension of the Algerian vineyards. 
 The vines there now cover a superficies of nearly 100,000 
 hectares, which produced in 1889 2,500,000 hectolitres of 
 wine. 
 
 If now we cast our eye over what has been passing in 
 foreign countries, we see that the culture of the vine is 
 extending everywhere. In Chili, in Uruguay, in the 
 Argentine Republic, and in Australia a great number of 
 vineyards are now established; and the special exhibition of 
 wines at the Paris Exhibition shows the importance which 
 these countries will take in the near future in competition 
 with old Europe, which has alone up till now supplied the 
 markets of the world. If, however, the production is in- 
 creasing in many countries, it should be remembered at 
 the same time that the phylloxera has also penetrated into 
 nearly all, and is making great ravages there. The measures 
 organized in Germany, in Switzerland, in Italy, in Spain, in 
 Austria-Hungary — everywhere, indeed, where the pest has 
 appeared — have been based upon the experience so dearly 
 acquired in France ; while the same means of reconstitution 
 which had been adopted in France were adopted, and other 
 nations have not hesitated to have recourse to the wisdom 
 of our professors and agents to guide them in their 
 defence. At the request of the Government of the Gape, 
 one of our professors went last year to examine the state 
 of the vineyards in that country, and to devise measures 
 
24 
 
 to be taken to combat the pest. In Spain aiud Italy— the 
 two countries which next to France produce roost wine — 
 the contagion continues to extend itself : numerous vine- 
 yards are attacked, and many are already destroyed. Spain 
 sees her richest provinces ravaged. In Barcelona, Tarragona, 
 Malaga, and Almeria the attack is multiplying. In 
 Malaga the small proprietors are constrained either to sell 
 their holdings at a very low price or to abandon them. 
 In Italy the superficies of contaminated or threatened 
 vines is already 160,000 hectares ; and in the presence of 
 so great an extension of the pest the Government has 
 renounced over certain districts of the territory the steps 
 which had been taken .at first, and occupies itself now 
 chiefly with reconstitution by American grafting. Phyl- 
 loxera, which had only appeared in the north of Italy in 
 the Provinces of Como and Liguria, and in Sicily, has now 
 appeared in Tuscany, Calabria, Sardinia, and elsewhere. 
 In Hungary the ravages of the insect are very grave. On 
 the 1st of January, 1889, the extent of territory invaded by 
 phylloxera was 115,000 hectares, or a third of the whole of 
 the Hungarian vineyards ; and of these more than 42,000 
 hectares were entirely destroyed. During 1889 the pest has 
 appeared in 182 new communes. Austria has not been spared 
 any more than Hungary. In the Provinces of Styria, 
 Carniola, and Istria, where there are more than 60,000 
 hectares of vines, nearly 15,000 have been attacked. In 
 Dalmatia, where the culture of the vine is the largest, the de- 
 vastating insect has not yet shown itself, The Austro- 
 Hungarian Government encourages treatment by insecticides 
 and reconstitution by American grafting. In Switzerland 
 the phylloxera continues to gain ground, but slowly, thanks 
 to the measures that are taken in each canton, to arreat 
 its march. In Germany and in Russia the situation js 
 nearly stationary : the progress of the pest is insignificant, 
 and the legislation of both countries enables the centres to 
 be destroyed as soon as the pest appears. In Portugal the 
 pest continues to extend its ravages : every year the 
 
»5 
 
 number of Realities invaded is* greater, principally in the 
 north, where theje, are 1Q0,0QQ hectares of invaded vine?, 
 of which 36,000 are entirely destroyed. 
 
 Qn the whole, it will he seen with satisfaction that no- 
 where are the defence and the reconstitution conducted with 
 more vigour than in France, and that if we have been the 
 first to be struck, a»d more cruelly than any other country, 
 we shall equally be the first to gather the fruits of our 
 researches and our perseverance in completing a work which 
 interests at once the public health, the finances of the 
 State, the fortune of thousands of proprietors, and the 
 subsistence of many millions of workers. 
 
 Enclosure 4. 
 Summary of the Report of Mr. George Couanon, In- 
 spector-General of the Services of the Phylloxera. 
 (Campaigns of 1888-89.) 
 
 The situation of the French vineyards in regard to the 
 phylloxera is being ameliorated from year to year, and the 
 formidable crisis which had produced such ruin among us 
 seems to be stayed. To-day defence by means of in- 
 secticides (sulphide of carbon and sulpho-carbonate of 
 potassium), submersion, and replantations in sandy ground, 
 as well as reconstitution by American stocks, are commonly 
 practised, and each of these processes is employed under 
 fixed conditions. 
 
 For the first time, in 1889, on the occasion of the Paris 
 Universal Exhibition, the national viticulture had a special 
 exhibition, where the immense progress accomplished in a 
 few years, was clearly shown. French viticulturists can 
 take a legitimate pride in what has been done during the 
 twenty-five years in which the invasion has appeared upon 
 their territory. Notwithstanding all difficulties, French 
 viticultuz'e is still the most considerable in the world ; 
 and the work of reconstitution extends so rapidly that 
 before many years the superficies planted in vines will 
 
26 
 
 become greater than it was formerly. The vignerons 
 have steadily devoted themselves to study and research, 
 and the Administration has not grudged ample encourage*- 
 ment. Thus the methods of culture have been largely 
 protected; the principles of restitution have been applied 
 to the soil ; studies have been vigorously pushed- on ; the 
 production of new varieties by seed and by hybridation has 
 increased the utilisable stocks ; and the system of grafting 
 has been largely carried out. In a word, from an art 
 which formerly was merely empirical, our viticulturiste 
 have produced a science which now takes rank in the first 
 order of agricultural knowledge. 
 
 Enclosure 5. 
 
 General Notes on Phylloxera in Foreign Countries. 
 
 1. France. 
 In 1874 a prize of 300,000fr. was voted by France 
 to the inventor of any efficacious and economical 
 means of preventing or arresting the ravages of the pest; 
 but this prize has never yet been awarded. By laws of 
 the 15th July, 1878 ; 2nd August, 1879 ; 1st December, 
 1887 ; and 15th December, 1888, regulations were made in 
 regard to the measures to be taken for arresting the pro- 
 gress of the plague. 
 
 International Phylloxeric Conventions exist between 
 Germany, France, Austria-Hungary, Portugal, Switzer- 
 land, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Servia. 
 
 The Superior Commission of France, at its sitting 
 in 1890, recommended the continuance during 1890 of 
 the three methods of insecticide hitherto adopted — viz., 
 (1) submersion, (2) sulphide of carbon, and (3) sulpho- 
 carbonate of potassium. 
 
 Whereas during the first six years in France the ravages 
 of the pest had only extended to 530,000 hectares, they had 
 increased to 15,000,000 hectares in ten years ; and the 
 
27 
 
 average annual production of wine had been diminished 
 during that time by 20,000,000 hectolitres. If the ex- 
 pense incurred had only had the effect of retarding by a 
 single year this loss of 20,000,000 hectolitres of wine, 
 400,000,000fr. would have been saved to France. 
 
 2. Germany. 
 
 A report of the German Phylloxera Administration 
 shows the measures taken in 1888 and 1889 to arrest the 
 propagation of the scourge and to destroy the centres of 
 infection discovered in the various provinces of the Empire. 
 It is accompanied by maps, showing these centres com- 
 pared with the previous years in 1888. There is not yet 
 enough information for 1889. 
 
 Compared to previous years, the propagation of the 
 malady in Germany has been relatively small. The 
 centres of infection discovered in 1888 are less numerous 
 and less extended than those which had been previously 
 noted. They are almost all found in small groups in the 
 neighbourhood of soils the contamination of which had 
 already been admitted, but the number of which had not 
 been at any time considerable. The works of disinfection 
 have been everywhere efficacious, and the Administration 
 hopes that this will bring about the final extermination of 
 the pest in Germany. 
 
 The centres of infection discovered in 1888 were less 
 numerous than formerly, and everywhere the work against 
 the pest has been crownad with success. On the left bank 
 of the Rhine, in many districts, only eighteen new centres 
 were found ; on the right bank twenty-eight new centres ; 
 and in most of these centres the contamination is confined 
 to isolated plants. 
 
 The Director of the Works of Disinfection on the left 
 bank of the Rhine found some curious indications. The 
 spots were all seen on the sideways, leading him to sup- 
 pose that the insect had been propagated by the traffic of 
 vignerons. 
 
28 
 
 A few vineyards at Biebrich, Mosbach, and Wiesbaden 
 showed small centres of infection. At Jiudesheim there 
 was no indication of the presence of the phylloxera. 
 
 At Leipsic the experience of 1889 confirmed the efficacy 
 of the processes of disinfection by petroleum and sulphide 
 of carbon, as well as the immunity of sandy soils from the 
 pest. The general impression in Germany seems to be less 
 unfavourable than the previous year, when it had been a 
 question whether it would not be necessary to abandon all 
 hope of arresting the extension of the pest. 
 
 At Wurtemberg new vineyards have been attacked^ and 
 many vines have been destroyed. 
 
 The phylloxera had not appeared in the vineyards of the 
 Grand Duchy of Hesse, the energetic steps taken at Bie- 
 brich having arrested the contagion. The only new centre 
 of contamination recently discovered is in the Rhenish pro- 
 vince of Westum ; but this had only extended to half a 
 hectare. Measures of disinfection were immediately 
 ordered, of burning the contaminated shoots,, and saturat- 
 ing the soil by petroleum and sulphide of carbon. These 
 radical measures, helped by the temperate climate of the 
 region, had arrested the rapid propagation of the malady, 
 though not making it disappear. The members of the 
 Congress of Treves unanimously acknowledged that the 
 only efficacious means to master the pest was to adopt the 
 French system of reconstitution of the vineyards. 
 
 3. Austria-Hungary. 
 The presence of phylloxera had been declared up to the 
 end of 1887 in 810 communes of Hungary. Since then, 
 228 other communes had been infested, representing an 
 increase of more than 28 per cent. The contaminated 
 communes are situated in thirty-eight departments. Since 
 its first appearance in Hungary in 1875, 132,352 cadastral 
 a,sres (76,102 hectares) have been invaded, of which 55,615 
 cadastral acres, were entirely destroyed. In 1886 there 
 were only three localities which might be regarded as free 
 
29 
 
 from the pest, and in 1887 only two. Sulphide of carbon 
 was only employed in 1887 on 235 cadastral acres ; the 
 American vines occupied 400 acres. The multiplication of 
 American vines, and the propagation of knowledge respect- 
 ing their grafting, had been the object of the particular 
 care of the Government. Besides cuttings furnished by 
 the nurseries of the State, 410,000 simple cuttings had 
 been brought in from the south of France, and 196,000 
 rooted cuttings ; so that the number of American vines 
 imported into Hungary in the years 1881 to 1887 repre- 
 sented a total of 5,869,717 cuttings. Plantations of in- 
 digenous vines in the sandy soils augment continually, and 
 lands formerly uncultivated are destined to repair, one 
 day, the deficit caused in the Hungarian vineyards. A.t 
 the end of 1888 the number of communes in Hungary 
 where the presence of the parasite had been officially de- 
 clared was 1,247, in 41 departments. 
 
 4. Bulgaria. 
 
 No change of any consequence took place during 1888 
 in the vineyards of Bulgaria, and the progress of the 
 malady was not great. A rigorous observation of the rules 
 which oblige proprietors to destroy all plants attacked, 
 immediately on the appearance of the malady, had a good 
 effect in delaying its march, as well as preventive measures 
 interdicting the entry into the country of all foreign 
 cuttings and plants. No treatment has been employed in 
 Bulgaria as yet to combat the malady. 
 
 5. Spain and Portugal. 
 
 In the provinces of Salamanca, Zamora, Orense, and 
 Pontevedra the culture of the vine is on a great scale. In 
 these provinces the phylloxera has not yet appeared. Iu 
 Leon the phylloxera has been seen for three or four years^ 
 but the malady has not extended, and the centres of in- 
 fection are small compared to the total area under vines. 
 
30 
 
 Hitherto the phylloxera has not done much harm, and 
 the precautions taken in the destruction of phylloxerated 
 vineyards, and treatment by sulphide of carbon, were be- 
 lieved to be sufficient to stay the evil. The Queen Regent 
 of Spain has established in certain provinces special com- 
 missions for creating nurseries of American plants, and 
 for teaching how to graft on the indigenous varieties, so as 
 to ascertain the adaptation of the climate and soil of each 
 locality for a reconstitution of the vineyards destroyed. 
 In other provinces commissions of vignerons are formed, con- 
 sisting of experts under the orders of a special commission. 
 Schools are established for teaching the plantation of the 
 American vine and its grafting; for studying the results 
 of the crossing of the indigenous vine and the American, 
 so as to determine the resistance which each variety will 
 afford ; to teach tbe best methods of treatment practised 
 in other countries ; and to try the wine produced by 
 American varieties. 
 
 In Rosas the phylloxera pursues its work of destruction, 
 and there is hardly an old vine left. The American 
 varieties have been largely planted, and the proprietors 
 intend to continue these plantations on a vast scale, 
 encouraged by the excellent results which the vineyards 
 first reconstituted have given. This district, which has 
 suffered so terribly since the invasion of the phylloxera, 
 begins to have a new hope, and redoubles its efforts, making 
 great sacrifices to reconstitute its vineyards, as the sole 
 means of preventing the misery and distress which have 
 fallen so heavily upon the people. The production of wine 
 is now reduced till it is entirely insufficient for the con- 
 sumption of the people. 
 
 In Almeria the phylloxera has rapidly increased. Two 
 years ago it was only seen in the confines of the Province 
 of Granada, without making much progress, but since then 
 it has invaded many important districts. 
 
 Hitherto the wine-producing vines have been the only 
 ones contaminated; those giving the raisins of export are 
 
31 
 
 as yet not invaded, owing to the vigour and hardiness of 
 their roots. The province is being examined in every part 
 to study the march of the malady and combat its develop- 
 ment. Very little use is now made of the sulphide of 
 carbon, which is considered inefficacious. The contami- 
 nated vines are taken up, and replaced by American 
 varieties . 
 
 In Malaga the appearance of the phylloxera in 1878 
 destroyed all prosperity. The pest, favoured by the dry- 
 ness of the soil, by the ignorance and apathy of the popu- 
 lation, and by the inertia of the Government, made incessant 
 and rapid progress, and extends now, without distinction, 
 over the whole of the province. 
 
 When the invasion first appeared, some rich proprietors 
 endeavoured to combat the evil by submersion and by 
 insecticides ; but these isolated teutatives, only made by 
 private initiative, and conducted without method, were not 
 followed by any good result. All tie methods recommended 
 by science or by the Government were quickly abandoned, 
 and the pest was left to extend itself as it chose, without 
 obstacle. When its work of destruction was complete, the 
 proprietors applied themselves to reconstituting their vine- 
 yards by American plants, with good results ; but only about 
 12,000 hectares have been reconstituted. The invasion 
 was the ruin of many small proprietors, and favoured 
 the gradual increase of emigration to Brazil and Buenos 
 Ay res. 
 
 In Barcelona the first centre of infection was discovered 
 in 1882. In 1886 a new extension of the pest was seen in 
 all the vineyards on the coast; in 1888 and 1889 numerous 
 centres of infection were discovered in districts which up 
 to that time had been considered free. In 1888 nurseries 
 of American vines were formed, and a subsidy granted by 
 the Government to syndicates of viticulturists holding 2,000 
 hectares of vines. 
 
 In Tarragona the treatment has been by sulphide of 
 carbon, the dose being 350 grammes per square metre, 
 
prescribed by an order of the General Direction of Agricul- 
 ture. The sulphide was injected, and the soil was 
 immediately afterwards compressed so as to leave the surfaoS 
 quite flat and hardened. The soil treated was covered with 
 a layer of tar from the gasworks, and another layer o£ sand, 
 the object being to get a hermetical closure, which would 
 prevent the evaporation of the sulphurous gases, and. pre- 
 vent the escape of any insect which had not been subjected 
 to the action of the sulphide. 
 
 In Portugal the pest is more threatening in the north than 
 in the south. In a short time there will not be in the 
 northern circumscription a single vine which has not been 
 visited by it. Out of 151 communes, ninety-one have been 
 attacked, comprising the richest vineyards ; and great 
 disaster has resulted. Eleven communes more than at the 
 last inspection have been foupi to be attacked. In the 
 eleven districts of the north of Portugal about 100,000 
 hectares of vines have been invaded, of which 36,000 are 
 entirely destroyed. The zone of the Douro alone has 
 •'?2,000 hectares of vine dead out of 50,000 hectares. 
 
 6. Italy. 
 
 The superficies of threatened vines in Italy is 159,000 
 hectares. In 1889 1,449,000 simple cuttings and 182,000 
 rooted cuttings of American vines were distributed, in 
 addition to a large number in previous years. The de- 
 mand increases for simple and rooted cuttings. 
 
 In Tuscany the pest has spared sixteen provinces. 
 Unfortunately, this immunity cannot be expected to last, 
 as it has penetrated border provinces. There is still great 
 apathy among the viticulturists, principally peasant pro- 
 prietors. In September, 1889, six new centres of infection 
 were discovered in the Province of Siena, and, as it has also 
 been seen in the Provinces Grosseto and Rome, the whole 
 centre of the peninsula is now more or less threatened. 
 
 In Calabria the phylloxera seems confined to two pro- 
 vinces, and the other provinces of south Italy have not yet 
 
33 
 
 (1889) been attacked. , Iu some localities the vines have 
 been entirely destroyed, aJ*ds the cultivation of the vine amay 
 have to be completely ahaaidtoed, ; as reconstitution by 
 American vines would cost more than the inhabitants can 
 afford. It is especially in the south of the peninsula, 
 opposite the Strait of Messina, that the ravages> have been 
 greatest. The Territory of Reggio has been attacked over 
 1~,5QQ hectares. In the Province of Lecee,, and the 
 eastern parts of Italy, the vines are left to themselvefe with- 
 out any support ; the leaves and the bunches ®f grapes trail 
 on the ground, and the distances separating the vines are 
 so small that in the flowering season the foliage of the 
 plants is intermixed. 
 
 In Milanese there was a very sensible -amelioration com- 
 pared to 1888. In the Province of Bergamo the conditions 
 remained stationary. There, as el&ewhere> the destructive 
 method rigorously applied has fairly succeeded. 
 
 In the Province of Novara the invasion made no new 
 progress in 1889, The pest is not great in the Provinces 
 of Piedmont, and the vineyards already attacked have little 
 importance compared to the total <of the wine*making 
 industry. 
 
 7. Switzerland. 
 
 In comparison with other countries attacked at the same 
 time as Switzerland, only a small part of her 35,000 
 hectares of vines have been infested, owing chiefly to the 
 processes energetically used in all the cantons. 
 
 A meeting of the Federal Commission was held in 1888 
 to consider the steps to be taken. There was a difference 
 of opinion as to the best remedies, as (notwithstanding 
 those that had been already adopted) fresh centres of infec- 
 tion were being discovered. On the whole, the majority of 
 the Commission decided to retain the existing methods of 
 replanting by American Tines. 
 
 8. Cape of Good Hope. 
 The report of the Secretary of Agriculture for 1889-90 
 3 
 
34 
 
 says that phylloxera has considerably extended, but that 
 many districts were still infected. Professor Mouillefert, 
 -who was sent by the French Government, to South Africa 
 at the request of the Cape Government, reported in June, 
 1889, that the attack was practically the same at the Cape 
 as in France, with this important difference : that, on ac- 
 count of the exceptional softness of the climate, the repro- 
 duction of the insect was much greater than in Europe. 
 This characteristic of the climate, together' with the great 
 heat of the region iinder vines, greatly helped the progress 
 of the pest, while the vines were in an inferior condition 
 of defence relatively to what they are in colder climates, 
 where the plant makes roots more easily. The French 
 vineyards are not only very old, but thoroughly well- 
 worked, and the country has resources not at the command 
 of the vine-growers of the Cape. Thus measures the 
 efficacy of which has been proved in France — viz., submer- 
 sion, bisulphide of carbon, and the alkaline sulpho- 
 carbonates — could hardly be used ; while the reconstruc- 
 tion of vineyards by American plants was found too costly, 
 requiring a large amount of labour, and workmen specially 
 accustomed to grafting. 
 
 The phylloxera had been gradually extending its ravages, 
 and the eradication of the pest was no longer even hoped 
 for. The opinion of experts was that the country was in 
 a very critical position. In most of the vineyards sub- 
 mersion could not be carried on, and treatment by bi- 
 sulphide of carbon was too expensive. The American vines 
 seem in general to thrive well at the Cape, but their power 
 of resistance has yet to be tried when planted in places 
 exposed to attack. It was thought that among the American 
 vines already planted there might be found many which 
 did not resist the phylloxera ; nor would every variety of 
 European grape grow on all the grafted varieties of Ame- 
 rican] neither would the American varieties grow on all 
 soils. 
 
35 
 
 PAET II. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE WITH R. J. CRE1GHT0N, ESQ., 
 OF SAN FRANCISCO. 
 
 CALIFORNIA, ETC. 
 
 The Under-Secretary, Crown Lands, to R. J. 
 Creightox, Esq. 
 
 General Crown Lands Office, 
 Sir, — Wellington, 11th July, 1890. ,, 
 
 I am instructed by the Hon. the Minister of, Lands 
 to request you to be good enough, on behalf of the Go- 
 vernment of this colony, to inquire, and report as fully ap 
 possible, as to the efficacy of the so-called " disease-proof" 
 vine as a cure for the phylloxera— that is, whether the 
 vine in question has been proved without doubt to be 
 disease-proof, and suitable for grafting on other vines; 
 and ;also whether there are any well-established methods of 
 curing phylloxera in the United States. 
 , The Government is informed by Mr. Wight (of Paeroa, 
 Thames), who makes the question a special study, that 
 there is more than one parasite fungus in the United 
 States of America, the attacks of which on the vine are 
 even more to be dreaded than phylloxera, and I am to 
 request you to make special inquiries in regard to thenx.. 
 
 The Government would also be glad of any information 
 you can obtain as to the best blight-resisting vine-stocks 
 in the United States. " ,; 
 
 I have, &/C, 
 
 H. J. H. Eliott, 
 R. J. Creighton, Esq., , Under-Secretary. , 
 
 Market Street, San Francisco,. 
 
36 
 
 R. J. Creighton, Esq., to the Under-Secretary, Crown 
 
 Lands. 
 San Francisco, California, 
 Sir,— 23rd August, 1890. 
 
 I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of 
 your letter No. 36, of the 11th July, requesting me, from 
 the Minister, to make certain inquiries regarding the culti- 
 vation of the grapevine in the United States, the diseases to 
 which the vine is subject, and the beneficial results or 
 otherwise from the use of wild American vines as resistant 
 stock. 
 
 Being fully impressed with the value of viticulture as 
 an important branch of fruit-farming to New Zealand, I 
 have endeavoured to make my investigation as complete as 
 possible ; and in so doing I placed myself in communication 
 with gentlemen who are, by virtue of their office and 
 experience, best qualified to speak on the various subjects 
 embraced in this inquiry. / 
 
 As the accompanying correspondence shows, I forwarded 
 your letter to Hon. C. A. Wetmore, Chief Executive Officer 
 of the California State Board of Viticulture, with a re- 
 quest that he would favour me with notes upon the points 
 raised in it, for the information of the New Zealand Go- 
 vernment, in the hope that his reply would contain facts 
 and suggestions of value to New Zealand grape-raisers, and 
 ■elsewhere also in the Australian Colonies. 
 "' In ' this I was not disappointed. Mr. Wetmore very 
 courteously 1 complied with my request, in a comprehensive 
 and' ink^iibtiwe letter .herewith enclosed. There are many 
 poM^'fh 'mJ'lett'er WliMi might be printed by the Govern- 
 ffleH^'lrid'fdfiMtt-iWiibfids throughout the colony for general 
 in'feferiMtioti-i"'^^^-' 1 ^;'^ - <■■>•< 
 
 I need hardly state that Mr. Wetmore is perhaps the 
 most competent pereo* t6"spe!ak on the subject of viti- 
 culture 'in : Galifdfcia-. ''Having made an exhaustive study 
 of flie^feltffvatliia^f the grape v and wfee4&$kihgtirf [France, 
 he returned to this State, A«d' itf'wUs'throiign'litis^ersiMent 
 
37 
 
 and intelligent efforts that the State Board of Viticulture 
 was established. It has been of incalculable value to 
 California, and has done more to make its wine known 
 abroad than all other agencies combined. 
 
 Through Mr. Wetmore' s courtesy, I am able to forward 
 to your department, by the " Zealandia," a complete set of 
 reports of the Viticultural Commission, selections from 
 which might be made and published by the Government. 
 The papers on pruning, grafting, &e., are of special value. 
 
 I have also written to the Secretary of Agriculture at 
 Washington for the reports issued by his department, as 
 suggested by Mr. Wetmore. I hope to be able to for- 
 ward them to you by the mail-steamer sailing hence in 
 September. 
 
 The French works on the diseases of the grapevine are 
 not on sale here, but may doubtless be procured through 
 the Agent- General's office at London. 
 
 I have also the honour to enclose correspondence with 
 Winfield Scott, Esq., Secretary of the State Viticultural 
 Commission, covering the report of Professor Ethelbert 
 Dowlen on the «o-called " Anaheim disease." 
 
 This report has not yet been published by the State 
 Board of Viticulture ; but in conversation with Mr. Scott 
 I learned that it was on file, and I am indebted to his 
 courtesy for a manuscript copy. It . is a valuable and 
 painstaking report, and seems to meet the point suggested 
 by your New Zealand correspondent in his letter to the 
 Minister on the obscure diseases of the vine in the United 
 States. 
 
 In reference to this subject generally I am gratified to 
 note some evidence of a growing interest in the cultivation 
 of the grapevine in New Zealand. ■ Some seven "or eight 
 years ago I procured, through Mr. Wetmore, large parcels 
 of the seed of the Vit. californica and riparia, which I for- 
 warded to a gentleman at Auckland then largely in- 
 terested in acclimatisation work. At the same time I 
 forwarded a small parcel of seed of the Vit. arizonica, a 
 
38 
 
 wild vine which has since acquired considerable reputa- 
 tion. 
 
 My intention was that these vines should he established 
 in New Zealand at a central nursery as resistant stock. 
 Owing to ignorance, however, the seeds were destroyed 
 upon arrival, because they had become slightly mildewed 
 on shipboard, and it was supposed they would not germi- 
 nate. In this way my attempt to furnish New Zealand 
 with resistant vines was frustrated; and a subsequent 
 shipment of choice grapevine cuttings, procured by me at 
 considerable expense and trouble, would not be passed 
 through the Customhouse, although I had taken the pre- 
 caution to have them thoroughly disinfected before ship- 
 ment, and despite the fact also that they had been selected 
 from vineyards then, as now, entirely free from disease. 
 
 It is to be regretted that New Zealand is still without 
 resistant vines, more especially as I understand phylloxera 
 has been developed notwithstanding your rigid quarantine. 
 
 If the cultivation of the grape is to become a national 
 industry in New Zealand — and there is no reason why it 
 should not — it will become absolutely necessary to esta- 
 blish nurseries of resistant vines, more especially those 
 varieties which French experience approves, because the 
 most complete tests have been applied in France, where 
 the vineyards suffered so much from disease. 
 
 This need not cost any considerable sum of money> and 
 the selection of the vines for resistant stock may be left 
 with the utmost confidence to the Secretary and Chief 
 Executive Officer of the California State Board of Viti- 
 culture, who, I am assured, would take a strong personal 
 interest in the matter. And there would be no danger to 
 be apprehended from the introduction of seed or cuttings 
 procured through this source. 
 
 Should the New Zealand Government decide to promote 
 viticulture as a national industry, I shall be pleased to 
 render what personal assistance I can to make it a success. 
 But nothing practical will be accomplished if you are to 
 
39 
 
 depend upon the present limited, and by no means well- 
 selected, stock of grapevines in New Zealand. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 
 Robert J. Ckeighton. 
 H. J. H. Eliott, Esq., 
 'Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. 
 
 Enclosure 1. 
 327, Market Street, San Francisco, 
 Dear Sir, — 12th August, 1890. 
 
 I take the liberty of enclosing, for your perusal, 
 h letter received by me from the Under-Secretary of Lands 
 at Wellington, New Zealand, on the subject of resistant 
 vines and "blight." 
 
 The letter is self-explanatory. Might I therefore 
 trouble you to furnish me with such brief comment upon 
 the points therein stated as you may deem sufficient, 
 knowing as I do that you have a thorough practical 
 acquaintance with everything pertaining to viticulture. 
 
 I shall not fail to acquaint the New Zealand Grovernr 
 ment with the obligations I am under to you for your 
 polite assistance in this matter. 
 
 I am, &c., 
 
 RoBT. J. CllEIGHTON, 
 
 Agent, New Zealand Government. 
 V. A. Wetmore, Esq., 
 
 Chief Executive Officer, 
 
 State Viticultural Commission. 
 
 Enclosure 2.. 
 Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, 
 San Francisco, 13th August, 1890. 
 Dear Sir, — 
 
 Your distinguished favour of the 12th instant was 
 received to-day, together with the enclosure referred to* 
 
 First, with respect to resistant vines, the experience of 
 this State so far is similar to that of France, and especially 
 
40 
 
 the southern portion of that country, inasmuch as France 
 has experimented with resistant vines to a far greater ex- 
 tent than is possible here ; and, together with the wide 
 range cif the ravages of the phylloxera .there, and the 
 enormous areas affected, we are still dependent upon 
 France for most of our information. The reports of the 
 National Agricultural School of France, at Montpellier, 
 under the direction of Professor G. Foex, can easily be 
 obtained by addressing the Director, and will be found to 
 contain a great deal of practical information. 
 
 In this State, in the few regions affected, phylloxera- 
 resistant vines of various kinds have been tried, and some 
 of them with very great success. It should be remem- 
 bered that the so-called resistant vines are stocks produced 
 either directly from the wild state or by subsequent culti- 
 vation, &c, of the wild stocks of North America. The 
 wild, American vines comprise quite a number of distinct 
 species, all of ithem proving more or less resistant to the 
 attacks of phylloxera when planted in congenial soils, 
 under suitable climatic circumstances. Some of these 
 varieties are impracticable for use, because they do not 
 propagate easily from cuttings. Others, such as the 
 varieties of the Labrusca family, are generally so weak in 
 resistance- that they are not extensively used as grafting- 
 stocks. The most popular varieties are those of the 
 riparia and aestivalis species. There is also in some places 
 some favour extended to the rupektrm and certain hybrids, 
 concerning which information can be better obtained from 
 the French reports. 
 
 The fact of resistance of these vines has been demon- 
 strated beyond' question both here and in France. The 
 lessons! derived-' from experience in experimenting with 
 them must be carefully studied in any new locality, as in 
 every district the adaptability of soil and climate for them 
 varyc-i The best advice that can be given is that in each 
 locality, infected, in each individual vineyard where disease 
 is feared, collections of the different recommended varieties 
 
11 
 
 should be grown- — a plant of each should be cultivated — so 
 as to determine which graf ting-fitock is the most vigorous 
 and desirable. 
 
 Having determined which is the best for each locality, 
 tlire vigowr of the plant being determined, and the test of 
 adaptability, it is an easy matter to propagate by cuttings 
 the desired varieties. I forward with this a copy of one 
 of our reports, setting forth considerable information as to 
 the methods of grafting. In reference to diseases now 
 existing in this State, I would refer you to the very able 
 and extended reports of Professor Ethelbert Dowlen, the 
 viticultural expert of this Commission, which are the result 
 of investigations conducted under the personal supervision 
 of Hon. J. De Barth Shorb, Viticultural Commissioner at 
 Large for the State of California. These reports have 
 been published regularly for the past year and a half in 
 the Pacific Wine and Spirit Review, of this city. 
 
 Again, referring to phylloxera, I would say that, 
 although it is known that a continued and careful appli- 
 cation of bisulphide of carbon or sulpho-carbonate of 
 potassium has proved efficacious in arresting disease, this 
 method becomes so expensive in actual practice that few 
 growers will resort to it. The method is defective as a 
 protection Wherever it is not universally applied within a 
 district, because vines, although they may once be freed 
 e-f the pest, are liable to renewed attacks from surrounding 
 vineyards that have not been so treated. 
 
 Another practical method, based upon experience in 
 -prance, especially along the River Rhone, is submersion 
 by water during the dormant period of the vine. This 
 submersion is only practicable where water is easily ob- 
 tained in large quantities, and where the vines are planted 
 on level ground. It is not a radical cure, and must be 
 continually repeated. Submersion does not mean irri- 
 gation. Where it is practised dykes must be thrown 
 around the vineyards, and water turned on until the land 
 is flooded, and kept submerged at least six weeks, during 
 
42 
 
 the dormant period, in this Northern Hemisphere the 
 month of January heing the best to operate in, as th& 
 flow of sap is then thoroughly quieted. It would not do 
 to flood the vines when the sap is in motion. 
 
 As to the fungoid diseases of vines in the United States,. 
 I can only briefly, in this communication, refer to those 
 affecting the vines of California, where our climatic condi- 
 tions prevent attacks of many forms of the most destruc- 
 tive fungoids which affect the vines in the eastern half of 
 our country, The arid summer which prevails in Cali- 
 fornia prevents the development of the worst known fun- 
 goid diseases to such an extent that California has no- 
 grave fears on account of these diseases. The common 
 mildew — Peronospora viticola — flourishes, only in climates 
 where the atmosphere is humid in summer, and especially 
 in the regions of fogs. It is very common throughout the- 
 oountry east of the Rocky Mountains of America. It has 
 created great ravages in France, but is little known in 
 California, and little feared. Concerning this form of fun- 
 gus there are numerous publications in France which can 
 be easily obtained by the New Zealand Government. The 
 ordinary form of mildew (so-called) — and erroneously 
 called mildew here — is o'idium, so well known in the south 
 of France. This is easily combated by applications of sul- 
 phur to the growing vines. We have in California some 
 complications of fungoid diseases, not well understood be- 
 cause they have not been so serious in their effects as to- 
 cause a thorough scientific investigation to be made. 
 Roughly speaking, where the fungoid diseases of California 
 do not yield to applications of powdered sulphur, they yield 
 to applications of sulphate of iron or copper, and lime, ap- 
 plied either as a concentrated wash to the vines when they 
 are dormant,, and after pruning, or as a light wash by spray- 
 ing in the early summer. 
 
 The New Zealand Government no doubt refers in this 
 part of the inquiries to the reports concerning the so-called 
 "Los Angeles vine-disease," now known as the "Ana- 
 
43 
 
 heim disease," which for a time some supposed to be 
 the result of attack from some unknown or undescribed 
 fungoid germ. Briefly stated, this disease has resulted in 
 the destruction, during the past five years, of 10,000 or 
 12,000 acres of vines in the extreme southern counties of 
 this State, the centre of attack being in Los Angeles 
 County. The most skilful investigators — one on the part 
 of this Commission, and the other from the Department of 
 Agriculture at Washington — have as yet failed to dis- 
 cover and describe any specific parasite as the cause of 
 this destruction . At the present time it appears that the 
 ravages noticeable during the past five years have, for some 
 cause, been arrested • and it is the prevailing opinion now 
 that the disease is disappearing. Whether this is true or not 
 remains for the latter part of this season to determine. 
 Inasmuch as very able men, on the ground where the 
 disease is prevalent, have believed that they might find 
 some fungoid germ to be the cause of the destruction, I 
 have myself avoided confusing the field by pushing for- 
 ward my own opinions, being content to rest on statements 
 that I made when the disease first appeared in Anaheim. 
 My own belief has been throughout that the disease has 
 been caused by unusual climatic conditions affecting the 
 soil and the root-vitality of the plant. I do not think 
 that any specific bacteria or fungus has been the cause of 
 the trouble. As soon as the conditions which brought 
 about the trouble have had time to change, I believe that 
 the disease will disappear. The trouble has seemed to me 
 all the while to be an affection of the vitality of the root- 
 lets, brought about by abnormal soil-conditions — the 
 primary cause being unusual floods and rains five years 
 ago, more or less repeated since. The disease has shown 
 itself locally, because the soil-conditions varied locally. I 
 will not pretend to advance any positive explanation of all 
 these conditions, because I have not had sufficient oppor- 
 tunity to investigate them thoroughly ; but the phenomena 
 plainly point in general to these causes mentioned. The 
 
41- 
 
 fact that there has been no specific disease capable of- being 
 disseminated by infection or contagion is partly demon- 
 strated by the fact that, while the disease was making its 
 progress in the southern country, large numbers of cuttings 
 were taken from the vines then attacked and planted in 
 Arizona, where only those which were moribund at the 
 time of planting have died, the others being as healthy as 
 could be wished. Cuttings taken from the same vines and 
 planted in soils adjacent to the original vineyards have died. 
 
 With respect to the more dreaded forms of fungoid 
 diseases prevalent in the United States, application should 
 be made to the United States Department of Agriculture, 
 at Washington, for reports on black-rot, peronospora, 
 and other forms studied in the East. Any standard French 
 work, of which there are numerous publications, will be 
 sufficient to explain the forms of fungoids affecting Cali- 
 fornia vineyards, and the remedies successfully applied. 
 As to methods for using sulphur, I refer you to our pub- 
 lished reports. ■. 
 
 Thanking yon for the honour of your communication, 
 and hoping that nothing serious may occur to injure the 
 prosperity of New Zealand vine-growers, 
 I remain, &c, 
 
 Chas. A. Wetmore, 
 
 Chief Executive Officer, 
 R. J. Creighton, Esq., 
 
 Agent New Zealand Government, 
 San Francisco, California. 
 
 Enclosure 3. 
 Deae Sie, — -. San Francisco, 15th August, 1890. 
 
 I have pleasure in acknowledging the receipt- of 
 your valuable letter of the 13th instant, in reply to my 
 request for information regarding the diseases of the 
 grapevine, in a communication of the previous day. 
 
 I have to thank you, on behalf of the New Zealand 
 Government, for whom the information was asked, for the 
 
45 
 
 scope and completeness of your reply, which, I have no 
 doubt, will be. highly appreciated by them. 
 
 Please accept my thanks also for the complete set of 
 viticultural reports, which I shall forward, together with 
 your esteemed letter, by the " Zealandia " on the 25th 
 instant. I remain, &c, 
 
 Robt. J. Crbightox. 
 C. A. Wetmore, Esq., 
 
 Chief Executive Officer, 
 State Board of Viticulture, San Francisco. 
 
 Enclosure 4. 
 
 Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, 
 San Francisco, 21st August, 1890. 
 Dear Sir, — 
 
 Enclosed you will find the report of Professor 
 Ethelbert Dowlen, the expert engaged by this Commission 
 to investigate the " Anaheim disease." This report was 
 read at the last annual meeting of the Commissioners, 
 and embodies the substance of forty-two progress reports 
 which have not yet been published by the Commission. I 
 have made a few parenthetical explanations in the report 
 for the guidance of your Government, whenever it seemed 
 necessary. What I have added I have initialled, so that 
 the explanations would not be confounded with Professor 
 Dowlen' s report. 
 
 Later reports from Professor Dowlen and Commissioner 
 J. De Barth Shorb indicate that the disease is dying away. 
 The hot weather of this season does not appear to have caused 
 its return in its old destructive form. Whether the relaxa- 
 tion is to be permanent or only temporary, time alone can tell. 
 
 I shall at all times be glad to render any possible 
 assistance to you or the New Zealand Government. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 
 WlNFIELT) SCOTT, 
 
 R. J. Creighton, Esq., Secretary. 
 
 Agent New Zealand Government, ! 
 
 San Francisco, California. 
 
46 
 
 Enclosure 5. 
 327, Market' Street, San Francisco, 
 Deak Sir,— 21st August, 1890. 
 
 I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of level 
 date, covering Professor E. Dbwlen's report upon the so- 
 called " Anaheim disease," for which please accept my best 
 thanks. 
 
 I have no doubt the New Zealand -Government will 
 appreciate your kindness in this matter, and I shall not 
 fail to acquaint them of the extent of my obligation's to 
 you. I have, &c, 
 
 Robt. J. Creighton, 
 Agent New Zealand Government. 
 Winfield Scott, Esq., 
 Secretary Viticultural Commission, 
 California. "' 
 
 Enclosure 6. 
 
 Report of Professor Ethelbert Dowlen, Special Agent 
 to investigate Vine-diseases in Southern California^ 
 read at the Annual Meeting of the State Viticultural 
 Commissioners, held the 9th June, 1890. 
 
 In September, 1888, the State Viticultural Commission 
 decided upon making an investigation into the cause of the 
 destruction of the vineyards of Los Angeles County. The 
 disease which was the cause of the trouble had then been 
 at work for at least four years. 
 
 At the commencement of the investigation- a series of 
 questions as to date of attack, soil, varieties grown, practice 
 in cultivation, &c, was drawn up in circular form, and sent 
 out to the principal vine-growers in the affected district. 
 Five hundred circulars were sent out, and one hundred and 
 one replies were received. Nine of these replies were from 
 persons who had given up viticulture, and there were 
 therefore ninety-two replies from persons actually engaged 
 in vine-growing. The information given in these replies 
 
47 
 
 has been tabulated, and sent in in Reports 15, 27, and 28. 
 The answers gave particulars concerning thirty-six locali- 
 ties' and forty-six varieties of vines. 
 
 So far as the information given in these replies goes, it 
 seems that the disease — variously known as " Lbs Angeles 
 rot," " the mysterious disease," " the new disease," but 
 which would be better named for the present as " the Ana- 
 heim disease " : — which has been the cause of all the trouble, 
 had been Working in the vines for at least four years 
 previous to 1888. The earliest date of attack given is 
 Anaheim, 1884. The dates of first attack are as follows : 
 Anaheim, North Pomona, 1884; Santa Ana, 1885; Orange, 
 Tustin, Fullerton, McPherson, Los Angeles, San Gabriel, 
 Alhambra, Burbank, 1886 ; Lamanda Park, Florence, 
 Tropico, Vernon, 1887 ; Verdugo, Maynard, 1888 ; River- 
 side, El Cajon, and Sweetwater Valley were not reported 
 until 1889. 
 
 The above dates give the period when attention was 
 first drawn to the altered condition of the vines in the 
 various localities. In all probability the disease had been 
 present for some time previously. One thing is evident : 
 The vines were first attacked seriously in and around Ana- 
 heim and Santa Ana, spreading thence to Los Angeles, and 
 thence eastward to Azusa, through Lamanda Park and 
 Sierra Madre, where, however, it did not do much damage. 
 Northwards it went through Tropico and Burbank as far 
 as Maynard, in Antelope Valley. The districts all around 
 Los Angeles seem to have suffered about alike. In 1889 
 the disease seems to have made a jump over into San Diego 
 County, appearing first in El Cajon Valley, and afterwards 
 in Sweetwater Valley. The same disease had also been 
 noticed by Professor F. L. Scribner and Professor Pierre 
 Viala in Napa Valley [This is in northern California. — 
 Winfield Scott] in 1887, where it. was again seen in 
 1889 ; but in this latter district it has never done any 
 mischief. : 
 
 With respect to varieties affected, the Mission and 
 
48 
 
 Muscat were first affected, and have suffered most. The 
 Burger, Mataro, and Trousseau come next ; the Carignam 
 and Grrenache have suffered slightly; the Blame Elba 
 scarcely at all ; the Lenoir, Gamay, Teinturier, and Folle 
 Blanche have escaped altogether. The wild vines have also 
 been attacked. From the replies received it does not ap- 
 pear that irrigation or non-irrigation, soil, time and manner 
 of pruning, or climatic conditions have any bearing on the 
 question. Altered climatic conditions have been some- 
 what strongly urged as the cause of all the trouble, the 
 wet season of 1884 being followed by the first noticeable 
 outbreak being advanced as proof. If there is anything 
 in this view, the exceptional rainfall of the past winter 
 should be followed by increased - severity of disease. In- 
 stead of this, the very reverse is the case, up to the present 
 at least. Respecting the manner in which the disease 
 manifests itself, the following are the principal points : — 
 
 The earliest symptoms of attack are shown by a few of 
 the leaves showing yellowish spots and patches. These 
 leaves may be found on one or two canes only, or may be 
 scattered over the entire vine. These spots, at first small, 
 spread until almost the whole of the leaf -blade is included. 
 Sometimes only one side of the leaf is affected. The spots 
 may remain as irregular patches, or may occupy all the 
 space between the principal veins of the leaf, in which 
 case the cellular tissue is discoloured, whilst the fibro- 
 vascular ribs remain green, forming a very definite pattern . 
 In black varieties the yellow patches turn red, and eventually 
 become dead and brown ; in white varieties the yellow spots 
 remain until they become brown and dead. The edges of 
 the leaves become dead, and curl up over the upper 
 surface of the lamina of the leaf. Eventually the leaf 
 dies, and often the lamina falls off, leaving the petiole 
 attached to the cane. In the second year, soon after the 
 vines have started, many of the young leaves, when about 
 an inch in diameter, have their edges blackened and curled 
 up, as though scorched or badly frosted. The leaves which 
 
49 
 
 are afterwards produced will show the same markings as 
 those first described. At the same time as these changes 
 take place in the leaves, the fruit may be attacked. Some 
 of the berries, or perhaps all in a bunch, will shrivel, and 
 in the end dry up, in which case they will remain hanging 
 on the vines ; or the development may be arrested, in which 
 case the fruit, if it ripens, is hard and sour. The fruit 
 may be attacked at any time from the time of flowering 
 until the first colouring of the berries. In the second year 
 of the disease the canes are — many of them — dwarfed, and 
 much crowded on the main stock. If they are of large 
 growth they are often flattened, and have their internodes 
 shortened. In the third year the growth is very much 
 reduced, the canes are often only a few inches in length, 
 and often the vine dies before the end of the summer, 
 though sometimes it will live on for another year. It not 
 infrequently happens that in each year diseased vines will 
 put out suckers which first appear very strong and healthy ; 
 but these too, in the end, die in the same way as the rest 
 of the vine. Usually the vines will live on for about three 
 years from the first attack, though some will straggle on for 
 nearly five years ; or, as in the case of some Mataro vines, 
 they will die in a short time after being attacked. These 
 Mataro vines were attacked suddenly in August, 1888. 
 The leaves dropped, the fruit dried up on the vines, and 
 before winter many were dead. Those that were left came 
 out somewhat weakly in 1889, and again went under after 
 the hot weather set in. Practically the whole plot was 
 dead before the winter of 1889. 
 
 The canes of diseased vines show the following features, 
 in addition to those noted above : — 
 
 Many canes do not ripen at all, even though they may 
 have made a fair growth. Others are ripened only on one 
 side. Others have patches of unripened bark and wood ; 
 these unripened patches and stripes often turn greenish- 
 brown and black. Internally the characters are as follows : 
 In the earlier stages the wood, though still green, is drier 
 4 
 
50 
 
 and lighter-coloured than in healthy canes. Soon after- 
 wards yellowish and brown spots and streaks appear in the 
 woody bundles. Eventually the whole of the wood becomes 
 dark-brown and moist, the pith will be darkened, and the 
 inner bark becomes blackened so as to show a black ring 
 around the fibro-vascular bundles. The medullary rays 
 sometimes show darker than the rest of the woody tissues. 
 The bark is also easily detached from the cane. Similar 
 features are found in the spurs and stock, and also in the 
 roots. The sap ceases to flow as a watery fluid, but oozes 
 from the cut surfaces of canes or stem in transparent 
 gummy masses. 
 
 The disease always travels downward. The tips of canes 
 die first, and it is quite easy to find canes which are' 
 apparently quite fresh and green at their junction with the 
 stem, but which are quite dead for at least half their length. 
 On cutting such canes longitudinally the transition from 
 the fresh green wood to that which is brown and dead is 
 plainly seen. 
 
 The same course is taken in cuttings. Amongst the 
 cuttings taken at the time of pruning in 1888—89, many 
 were found to have become diseased after being put in the 
 nursery, and it was always the case that the disease started 
 at the end which was naturally the upper end. Some cut- 
 tings were purposely planted upside down, but still the 
 disease started in the end which had been farthest from . 
 the main stem. 
 
 Another feature is the rapid increase of disease in a 
 vine after pruning. This was noticed in the pruning- 
 season of 1888-89, and again during the last pruning- 
 season. In one instance spurs were observed to die back 
 5in. in seven days. 
 
 Cuttings taken from healthy vines, and brought from 
 a distance, have not always proved to be exempt from 
 disease, but have even shown the first signs during the first 
 year of planting. 
 
 Under the microscope, the tissues of canes from diseased 
 
51 
 
 vines always show the same characters. In those canes 
 which remain unripened, and in those which appear to be 
 drier than usual, it will he found that starch is altogether 
 wanting, or is present only in scattered grains, few in 
 number and small in size. Sometimes these scattered 
 grains look as if eroded, and sometimes they are disco- 
 loured. Sometimes they do not turn blue easily with 
 iodine. In those canes which have one side ripe and the 
 other unripe, usually the tissues of the ripened portion are 
 well supplied with starch, whilst the tissues of the un- 
 ripened portion will be altogether devoid of it. In the 
 discoloured spots in the woody bundles the components of 
 the tissues are seen either to have their walls stained 
 brown, or else the entire cell-cavity is filled, up with a brown 
 deposit. This is especially the case with the blackened 
 inner bark. The large ducts and vessels are often seen to 
 be filled up more or less with thylles, which are developed 
 sometimes to a great extent. Threads of mycelium are 
 also seen in more or less abundance running through the 
 various tissues. Bacteria are also found more or less 
 plentifully, and various forms of fungi are abundant upon 
 the canes of the diseased vines. 
 
 No insects have been met with which could have any- 
 thing to do with the disease. 
 
 The above are the principal features found in vines 
 affected with the Anaheim disease. What this disease is 
 cannot be stated positively at present. It may be that 
 more than one disease is present. None of the ordinary 
 diseases of vines, such as anthracnose, black -rot, the more 
 common powdery mildew and downy mildew, the various 
 root-fungi, nor yet phylloxera, are concerned in the death 
 of the vines. 
 
 At present the disease stands side by side with certain 
 European vine-diseases, which have not yet been worked 
 out, though they have been known and studied for a long 
 time. The malady to which the Anaheim disease bears 
 the greatest likeness is mal nero, which has been known 
 
52 
 
 in Sicily and Italy for many years past, where it has 
 been studied for the past twenty years, having been first 
 recognised, according to M. Cugini, in 1863, in Sicily. 
 The general characters of mat nero are as follows : 
 The internodes are shortened and flattened, instead of 
 being cylindrical. According to M. Gregori, the leaves 
 are spotted with yellow and red, and present on these spots 
 small drops of resinous substance. The fruit-bunches dry 
 up. A transverse section of the stem shows the wood to be 
 spotted brown or black ; the bark is only slightly adhe- 
 rent, and is brown ; the entire wood is altered ; the roots 
 still appear healthy when the stem and branches are much 
 changed. Under the microscope it is seen that in the 
 altered cells the starch which is normally present has dis- 
 appeared, or looks as if gnawed, and is brown. It changes 
 colour with difficulty on application of iodine. The mem- 
 bers of the cellular tissues are brown. In the interior of 
 the vessels there is a great increase in the number of 
 thylles, and there is an abundant deposit of thick brown 
 matter. Bacteria are also abundant. Vigorous shoots 
 are often put forth from the stem near the ground, or even 
 from the roots. The disease always travels down from the 
 main stem to the roots, the vine finally dying in from three 
 to five years. 
 
 From the above it will be seen that there are many 
 points of resemblance between mat nero and the Anaheim 
 disease. Still, there are some points in which the two dis- 
 eases are not alike — e.g., the case of the Mataro vines, 
 which were suddenly struck down. Other instances have 
 been reported of sudden attack after a spell of hot weather. 
 To a certain extent these cases of sudden attack resemble 
 folletage rather than mal nero. Folletage most frequently 
 happens after heavy rains and during great heats. Under 
 an attack of folletage the vines will suddenly lose their 
 leaves. Even the canes sometimes dry up, and the vine 
 dies soon after. But, whilst with folletage the vines are 
 only killed here and there, and the trouble does not spread, 
 
53 
 
 in the case of the Mataro vines almost entire blocks were 
 killed, and the trouble continued until the following year ; 
 nor did the attack succeed heavy rains. 
 
 As with the Anaheim disease, so with mal nero, nothing 
 is positively known as to the cause of the malady. Opinion 
 is still divided among Italian scientists as to whether mal 
 nero is due to the action of parasitic fungi or not. Most of 
 the Italian authorities are of the opinion that these fungi 
 are not the cause of the disease. In the Anaheim disease 
 fungi are abundant upon and in the diseased canes, but 
 whether as cause or effect is not yet proved. In this con- 
 nection it may be remembered that the habits of some 
 fungi, at any rate, are liable to change. The fungus of 
 white-rot — Coniothyrium diplodiella — was at one time 
 classed as a saprophyte ; it is now certainly known to be a 
 parasite. And the fungus of black-rot — Lcestadia bidwellii 
 — has been found, in parts of New York State, Northern 
 Ohio, and the islands of Lake Erie, to be rather saprophytic 
 than parasitic in its nature. 
 
 The Anaheim disease has probably existed in the State 
 for many years past. It was noticed in Napa Valley in 
 1887, and again in Napa and Livermore Valleys [Both in 
 northern California. — W. S.] in 1889 ; but in each district 
 vineyardists also stated that " that could not be the new 
 disease, for it had been known to them for years, and never 
 did any harm beyond killing a few vines now and then ; 
 and that it M'ould come and go." The same was found to 
 be the case at Riverside. The disease was undoubtedly 
 there; but there also vineyardists stated that they had known 
 that affection of the vines for years, and that sometimes a 
 vine would die and sometimes it would recover. 
 
 It will be seen from the above that either there are con- 
 siderable variations of the same disease, or else more than 
 one disease is at work. The different modes of attack, the 
 different results in the different parts of the State, and the 
 different appearances of the leaves of the diseased vines, are 
 points not yet reconciled with each other. 
 
54 
 
 Professor Henri Grosjean, of the French Ministry of 
 Agriculture, writing to Hon. J. De Barth Shprb on the 
 Anaheim disease, 26th February, 1890, says, ^ " We have 
 not yet heard of a disease presenting the different features 
 described in Mr. Dowlen's letter, and we would not be sur- 
 prised to be in presence of several diseases." 
 
 Professor L. Paparelli, of the University of California, a 
 pupil of Professor Torgoni Torretti, writing on the 19th 
 May, 1890, says, " For my own part, judging by the 
 samples and the description of the 'Los Angeles'" [i.e., 
 " Anaheim." — W. S.] " vine-disease, I should think that not 
 the mal nero alone is in question, but two or three maladies 
 together, perhaps all of a non-parasitic nature." 
 
 This question has also been referred to in Report 34. 
 
 With regard to remedies, partial success has been at- 
 tained. In December, 1888, a small hothouse was erected 
 by the Commission, in which rooted vines of different va- 
 rieties, both healthy and diseased, were set out for observation 
 and experiment. One end of this was accidentally burned 
 out, and most of the vines were destroyed. Whilst, the 
 damage was being repaired, a second house was erected by 
 the Los Angeles County authorities, and by the middle of 
 February, 1889, both houses were started with a fresh sup- 
 ply of cuttings and rooted vines of the varieties mostly 
 grown in the district. Many were known to be diseased. 
 Of the cuttings thirty-six were of the Mission variety. The 
 rooted vines were several times treated with a mixture after- 
 wards known as " Ongerth's powder." The cuttings were 
 also treated with different mixtures, both in solution and 
 in powder, which were practically modifications of " On- 
 gerth's powder." The cuttings were set out in rows of 
 four each, two being dressed and two undressed. All the 
 rooted vines grew well, and nearly all the cuttings started. 
 By the end of April the houses were full of vines, and by 
 the end of June the growth had so increased that quite a 
 third of the rooted vines had to be taken out. Through 
 the summer of last year the vines were left to themselves 
 
55 
 
 except that they were supplied with a little water. In Oc- 
 tober last most of the vines were cleared out to make room 
 for new jplants ; when it was found that of the Mission cut- 
 tings nearly all the untreated plants were dead, whilst all 
 of the treated plants but two had made large growth. 
 Three of these were reserved. Of the rooted vines, three 
 Mission vines, diseased when put in, were quite healthy, 
 and three Muscats and one Burger, also diseased when put 
 in, were only slightly diseased. These were all reserved. 
 Up to the present time all these vines are in excellent 
 health. The treatment has been continued during this 
 year. Fresh vines, much diseased, were brought in last 
 December and January, some of which were treated and 
 others were left untreated. All the treated vines are in 
 much better condition than those not treated. 
 
 Outside, the powder was applied last year experimentally 
 on two vineyards with a total of about a thousand acres. 
 Three applications were made, one just before the vines 
 started, one just after starting, and a third in June. The 
 disease had shown itself rather early, but after each 
 application the disease was checked and a fresh and 
 healthy-looking growth was induced; but by the end of 
 the season the disease had apparently reasserted itself. 
 The powder has been tried by different vineyardists, some 
 of whom speak favourably and others unfavourably of it. 
 One gentleman claims to have cured his vines by its use. 
 His vineyard is certainly in excellent condition, and is 
 apparently free from disease. 
 
 The present outlook is encouraging. The vines were 
 rather late in starting, but in all cases they have made 
 excellent growth, with promise of a large crop of fruit. 
 This is the case with all varieties, Mission included. Even 
 where the vines were left unpruned and the ground uncul 7 
 tivated, the vines having been condemned on account of 
 the large amount of disease in them, a strong, healthy- 
 looking growth has been made. This is even the case 
 with the Mataro vines mentioned above which died back 
 
56 
 
 5iu. after pruning. The signs of disease in the early part 
 of the season were very few, and, as there has been but 
 little increase, it is possible that the disease may pass away. 
 But too much confidence must not be placed in this state 
 of things, as the hot weather of the next three months 
 may bring about a change for the worse, as the vines, of 
 necessity, must be in a very weak condition. 
 
 1st June, 1890. Ethelbert Dowlen. 
 
 R. J. Ckeighton, Esq., to the Under-Secretary, 
 Crown Lands. 
 
 San Francisco, California, 
 Sir, — 13th September, 1890. 
 
 In continuation of my letter of the 23rd August, I 
 have the honour to inform you that I applied to the Hon. 
 J. M. Rusk, Secretary of Agriculture, for the reports of 
 his department bearing upon the diseases of the grape- 
 vine, who complied with my request. 
 
 I attach herewith correspondence in question, and 
 forward, in charge of the Mail Agent, the publications 
 referred to. 
 
 I also enclose newspaper report of an address by Mr. 
 Wetmore to the Horticultural Convention which met at 
 San Diego early this month, and which contains a great 
 deal of practical information that should prove valuable to 
 New Zealand viticulturists. Mr. Wetmore, in his 
 remarks, alludes to the " Anaheim disease," to which 
 reference is made at greater length in his reply to my 
 letter already forwarded to you. 
 
 The reported spread of phylloxera in Prance has in- 
 creased the inquiry for resistant vines, and considerable 
 shipments will be made on French account. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 
 Robt. J. Creighton. 
 H. J. H. Eliott, Esq., Under-Secretary, 
 Lands Department, Wellington. 
 
57 
 
 P-S. — To illustrate the importance and value of the 
 fruit industry to California, I may mention that the ship- 
 ments of fruit this season by rail to eastern points will 
 exceed ten thousand cars, and that each car-load of fruit 
 averages 20,0001b. High prices are obtained, the eastern 
 and southern fruit-crop having failed. — R. J. C. 
 
 Enclosure 1. 
 
 327, Market Street, San Francisco, 
 Sir, — 20th August, 1890. 
 
 I have the honour to state that the New Zealand 
 Government has requested me to make inquiry regarding" 
 the diseases to which grapevines are subjected in the 
 United States, and the remedies which have been approved 
 by scientific investigation and experience. My investiga- 
 tion is likewise to include the use of wild resistant vines 
 as a preventive of disease. 
 
 I have procured, through the courtesy of Hon. C. A. 
 Wetmore, Chief Executive Officer of the California State 
 Viticultural Commission, detailed information on those 
 subjects so far as California is concerned, including the 
 various reports' issued by the Commission. 
 
 At the same time Mr. Wetmore suggested that I should 
 apply to the United States Department of Agriculture for 
 its reports on the more dreaded forms of fungoid diseases 
 prevalent in the United States, specifying those upon black- 
 rot; peronospora, and other forms studied in the East. 
 
 I have the honour, therefore, on behalf of the New 
 Zealand Government, to formulate a request for the re- 
 ports suggested "by Mr. Wetmore, and such other public 
 reports as might, in your judgment, contain useful infor- 
 mation for the viticulturists of New Zealand. I should 
 perhaps add that the climate is generally mild, and, while 
 there is a great deal of moisture, as a rule there is very 
 little frost. 
 
58 
 
 Thanking you in anticipation for your compliance with 
 this request, I have, &c, 
 
 Eobt. J.. Creighton, 
 Agent, New Zealand Government. 
 Hon. J. M. Rusk, Secretary of Agriculture, 
 Washington, D.C. 
 
 Enclosure 2. 
 
 Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C, 
 Dear Sir, — 27th August, 1890. 
 
 In reply to yours of the 20th August, we would 
 say that it will give us great pleasure to forward \ you all. 
 our publications in regard to the diseases of the grape- 
 vine, and especially those which relate to the diseases in 
 the Eastern United States — namely, black-rot, anthracnose,. 
 and downy and powdery mildews. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 
 Edwin Willits, 
 
 Assistant Secretary. 
 Mr. R. J. Creighton, 
 Agent of the New Zealand Government, 
 
 327, Market St., San Francisco, California. 
 
 Enclosure 3. 
 
 327, Market Street, San Francisco, 
 Dear Sir, — 2nd September, 1890. 
 
 I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of 
 your letter of the 27th August, together with* the publica.- 
 tions of the Department of Agriculture in regard to the 
 diseases of the grapevine therein referred to, for which 
 please accept my best thanks. 
 
 I shall have pleasure in mentioning your polite com- 
 pliance with my request to the New Zealand Government, 
 
59 
 
 who will, no doubt, appreciate your kindness in this 
 matter. I have, &c, 
 
 Robt. J. Creighton, 
 Agent, New Zealand Government. 
 Edwin Willits, Esq., 
 Assistant Secretary, Department of Agriculture, 
 Washington, D.C. 
 
 Enclosure 4. 
 
 [From San Diego Union, 5th September, 1890.] 
 
 Wetmore on Vines. — He shows where the Money is in 
 
 drying Grapes, and says there is no Vine-disease, the 
 
 Trouble being purely local — Afternoon Session, and 
 
 Adjournment of the Horticulturists. 
 The Horticultural Convention resumed its session yester- 
 day an hour earlier than usual, to dispose of the business 
 to be crowded into the last day. Jonathan Begg, of Ocean- 
 side, was the only new delegate reported. 
 
 Charles A. Wetmore, of the State Viticultural Commis- 
 sion, who had entered to listen, immediately found that there 
 was much ahead of him in giving the results of his wide 
 and successful experiments with vineyards. The man who 
 has popularised California wines, and whose claret from 
 Livermore brought back the world's prize from Pai*is, was 
 not permitted to talk without interruption. The delegates 
 had corralled an expert, and they were prompt in asking 
 questions, as Mr. Wetmore proceeded to enlighten them as 
 no one had ever clone before. 
 
 There was a look of relief on every face when Mr. 
 Wetmore gave his theory of the vine-disease existing in 
 southern California, which he believed was not a disease 
 at all, but a local matter wholly. He thought it was no 
 more a specific disease than that which attacked ]the peach- 
 tree,s of the Sacramento Valley last year. That trouble, 
 he was satisfied, had been caused by accidental disturbances 
 
60 
 
 of the soil, brought about by excessive rains. He had never 
 believed in the so-called vine-disease, and, although experts 
 had been studying and experimenting for three years, they 
 had not found a microbe yet. The nearest approach to it 
 was when Professor Pierce examined the moribund vines 
 about Anaheim, and asserted that he found bacteria in the 
 sap. Mr. Wetmore related his unsuccessful search for this 
 expert, and that an Anaheim man he met told of seeing 
 the bacteria under a microscope. " I asked him where 
 Professor Pierce got the water to moisten the stem," con- 
 tinued the speaker. " He responded that it came out of a 
 well. Of course such water is full of bacteria. Those 
 who have studied this subject know that bacteria may be 
 found in any dying wood, and I believe Professor Pierce 
 has since abandoned his theory. There was also an idea 
 that the trouble might be a fungoid disease attacking from 
 without ; but, as all healthy vines are affected with fungoid, 
 that was given up. The affection of the leaves seems 
 analogous to the ' craziness ' which attacked the vines in 
 the south of France. After heavy winter floods, the fol- 
 lowing July and August all the leaves suffered sunstroke, 
 some entire vines withering. This has been fully described 
 by the Director of the National College at Montpellier, 
 Prance. Either after drought or heavy rains the vines are 
 apt to be affected in this way. Precisely the same condi- 
 tion exists in southern California. But our trouble is that 
 we have confounded the primary cause with the secondary 
 state. At Anaheim the leaves scorched at the tips. Should 
 they survive to the next year they will appear in a dying 
 condition. By confounding the indications of the first 
 attack with this secondary condition they have muddled the 
 question." 
 
 Benefits of Priming. — Mr. Wetmore advised early priming 
 works down, while the water of , the soil works up. The 
 of ends or tips afflicted with fermented sap, as sap 
 sap, if fermented, will spread on through the whole vine if 
 not checked. He told Sf the experiment of Mr. McPher- 
 
61 
 
 son, of Orange, who found that the affected vines set out 
 again in new land there died, while those from the same lot 
 which he planted in the Salt River Valley, Ariz., flourished. 
 This was another evidence that the trouble was local, and 
 that the disease could not be transported. He would not 
 he afraid to transfer one of these vines to his Livermore 
 vineyard, but it might alarm other vineyardists there. 
 
 Taking up the subject of alkali and salt lands, he ex- 
 plained that the want of drainage was what brought the 
 salt or alkali to the surface, and that surface irrigation 
 judiciously applied would neutralise the saline matter by 
 diluting it. On the other hand, if permitted to concen- 
 trate, it would kill the plants, as they would begin to act 
 as if dying from drought. The vine should be taken up 
 and the juice extracted for analysis, to decide the question. 
 He had come to think that excessive salt in land was 
 probably the cause of the vine trouble, and believed it 
 might be remedied by planting beets for fodder between 
 the rows, and then irrigating well. The beets flourished in 
 salt, and would absorb it from the soil. By cultivating 
 well, draining and irrigating, he believed the vine trouble 
 would disappear in two or three years. But water should 
 never be allowed to lie on the surface, or it would bring 
 the salt or alkali up, and after evaporating the soil would be 
 caked with it. 
 
 Mr. Wetmore told of experiments with various fruits, 
 illustrating pruning, &c, and then reverted to the market 
 for dried wine-grapes, a good price being always obtainable. 
 California would send from five hundred to seven hundred 
 carloads of them to the East this year. The dried-fruit 
 market there was depleted, and commission merchants were 
 now scouring the State for dried grapes, which Eastern 
 wine-makers were depending upon. Those who had wine- 
 grapes, but who did not want to make wine, could com- 
 mand this certain market by drying their grapes. In the 
 process some laid the grape out on wall-lining paper. 
 Others used cheese-cloth. He had seen square pieces of 
 
62 
 
 paper used with two large trays for turning the bunches 
 over. On clay or gravel soil, which is warm at night, the 
 grapes would need nothing under them ; but on sandy 
 soil, which is cool at night, they would need to lie on cloth 
 or paper. If it should prove too moist near the coast to 
 dry the grapes fully, the work could be completed in some 
 barn or building by employing screen-trays of galvanised 
 wire. A raisih-tray would do as well. They should be 
 stemmed, and put up in cotton sacks. There was an 
 economic value in buying grapes dried here, for on reach- 
 ing the moist climate of the East they would gain about 
 20 per cent, in weight. There would always be a double 
 market, as the grocery trade would also take these dried 
 grapes for food. As soon as the Eastern wine-makers find 
 out that dried Zinf andels possess all that is needed to colour 
 and strengthen their wines, they will stop using imported 
 cherry-juice to colour and corn-spirits to strengthen them. 
 It will not then be long before dried Zinfandels will bring 
 $30 a ton. 
 
 Mr. Wetmore was warmly thanked for the information 
 given, and Captain Folk, of Oneonta, said he had learned 
 more practical things from Mr. Wetmore than in six years 
 of previous efforts to secure information on those same 
 points. 
 
 Mr. J. P. Jones wished it understood that Professor 
 Pierce used boiled and distilled water in his vine tests, and 
 that the Anaheim man must have been misinformed about 
 the well-water. 
 
 The Hon. the Minister of Lands and Agriculture to 
 R. J. Creighton, Esq. 
 
 Sir, — Wellington, 2nd October, 1890. 
 
 I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of 
 your letter of the 23rd August, and, in reply, to convey to 
 you the thanks of the Government of the colony for the 
 interesting and valuable information which you have 
 
63 
 
 procured and forwarded on the cultivation of the grape- 
 vine in the United States of America. 
 
 I shall be obliged by your forwarding to the Com- 
 missioner of Crown Lands at Auckland, in time for next 
 season, a small supply of the various kinds of " resistant 
 stock " vines to which you refer, in order that they may 
 be tried in districts where there is phylloxera at present. 
 
 Will you kindly convey to the gentlemen mentioned by 
 you the special thanks of this Government for the trouble 
 taken by them in procuring information, and for the assist- 
 ance they rendered you in this important matter. 
 
 As you are probably aware, a special Committee was 
 appointed last session to inquire and report upon the flax 
 and other industries (including wine and fruit), and, as the 
 results of the inquiries instituted by that Committee may 
 be of interest to you, I have forwarded by book post three 
 printed copies of each of the reports brought up for adop- 
 tion by the House of Representatives. 
 I have, &c, 
 
 G. F. Richardson, 
 Minister of Lands and Agriculture. 
 R. J. Creighton, Esq., 
 
 327, Market Street, San Francisco, California. 
 
 The Under-Secretary, Crown Lands, to R. J. 
 Creighton, Esq. 
 Sir, — Wellington, 22nd October, 1890. 
 
 I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of 
 your letter of the 13th September last, and to acknowledge 
 with thanks the receipt of further information bearing upon 
 the diseases of the grapevine, which duly reached me at the 
 hands of the Mail Agent, Mr. Dryden. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 
 H. J. H. Eliott, 
 
 Under-Secretary. 
 R. J. Creighton, Esq., 
 327, Market Street, San Francisco, California. 
 
64 
 
 PART III. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 The following extracts from the works quoted are also 
 published for general information : — 
 
 PHYLLOXERA VASTATRIX. 
 
 Biology of the Phylloxera.* 
 
 rExtraot from the First Annual Beport of the Chief Executive Vitioul- 
 tural Officer to the Board of State (California) Viticultural Commis- 
 sioners, 1881.] 
 
 Phylloxera vastatrioo appears in various forms — some 
 subterranean, others aerial. They are : first, the agamous 
 aptera (wingless, aerial, and subterranean) ; second, the 
 pupae (subterranean) ; third, agamous winged insects 
 (aerial), and the sexual individuals (aerial). It is now 
 no longer contestable as to whether these diverse forms 
 come from the same origin. 
 
 First, Agamous Aptera. — The agamous aptera come from 
 the egg of the sexual individuals. They usually come 
 forth in April in the Mediterranean climate. They are 
 recognised by their agility, by their somewhat greyish 
 pale-yellow tint, by the length of their legs and antennae, 
 and by the stiff hairs covering these organs. According 
 as the atmospheric conditions are more or less favourable to 
 one or the other mode of existence, they crawl up on the 
 canes and leaves, or go down into the ground on the roots. 
 
 (a.) Gall State. — In the first place, the insect, by 
 puncturing, produces on the parenchyma of the young 
 leaves, on the herbaceous canes, which are very tender, or 
 
 * For a more complete study, see " Etudes sur le Phylloxera vasta- 
 tAfix,^ by M. Maxime Cornu ; " Memoirs presenter par Divers Savants 
 a l'Aoademie des Soienoes," Tom. xscvi., No.' 1 ; and " Histoire du 
 Phylloxera," &c, by .T. Lichtenstein, Montpellier, Conlet Libr., 1878. 
 
65 
 
 even on the tendrils of certain species and varieties, galls') in 
 which it settles itself, and after three successive changes 
 enters the mother state, without there has been the inter- 
 vention of a male. It then becomes swollen and large, 
 and lays successively in the pouch thus formed a large 
 number of pseudova (false eggs, as opposed to the egg J of 
 the sexual female). In a short time they are hatched. 
 The young of this second generation, in their turn, settle 
 on the leaves of the extremities and there form galls, or 
 else they descend to the roots. The multiplication of 
 galls, if circumstances are favourable, may be continued 
 until the fall of the leaves. 
 
 {b.) Radicola Type. — The insects that penetrate under- 
 ground and live on the roots may be divided into two 
 classes — the one, which, like the gallicolse, pass by a 
 series of three changes to the mother state; the other, 
 which, after five changes, come to the pupal state. 
 
 1. The mothers, very similar to those of the galls, not 
 impregnated, lay from twenty-five to thirty pseudova, at 
 the rate of two or three every four or five days, after 
 which they die. The pseudova hatch in eight or ten days, 
 and give birth to active young insects able to leave the 
 ground by the crevices in the soil, and, either by crawling 
 or being borne along by the wind, settle on roots farther 
 off. This new generation passes through the same stages, 
 and things continue thus until the end of October or the 
 beginning of November. At this season the mothers die, 
 and the young ones recently hatched pass the winter on the 
 roots, in a completely torpid condition. They then assume 
 a brown tint, and seem emaciated and flattened out. In 
 April these hibernants become active ; they then continue 
 the series of agamous generations previously described. 
 It has been found that this mode of multiplication may be 
 continued for three years at the least. 
 
 2. The aptera that do not become mothers undergo, as 
 we have said, two changes more than the others, and go 
 into the pupal state in July. 
 5 
 
66 
 
 Second, Pupee. — The pupae are characterized by being 
 longer and of a more fawn colour than the other radicolse, 
 and by the deep colour of the wing-cases, which they have 
 on both sides. In fifteen or twenty days the pupa leaves 
 the ground^ and acquires wings by another transforma- 
 tion. 
 
 Third, Agamous Winged Insects. — The winged insect, 
 resembling a very small gnat, has a long yellow body with 
 four transparent wings, longer than the abdomen and of 
 unequal length, the two anterior longer than the posterior. 
 The winged insect takes its flight and is often wafted very 
 far by the wind : that is probably the principal agent in 
 its flying to great distances. When it can stop itself it 
 settles on the under-side of the vine-leaves, and there, 
 without impregnation, lays from three to six pseudova, 
 some large, others small, from which come the sexual 
 individuals. 
 
 Fourth, Sexual Individuals. — The females come from;the 
 larger pseudova of the winged insects, the males from the 
 small ones. These insects are apterous, without suckers 
 and digestive organs; they mate almost as soon as they 
 are hatched, and the female lays an egg from which, the 
 following spring, are hatched the new generations of 
 agamous aptera, which were spoken of at first. 
 
 This egg, which has been named the winter egg, because 
 where it was first studied (Gironde) it remained unhatched 
 during the winter, is deposited under the bark of two-year- 
 old wood (beneath the shoots of the current year). It is 
 hard to be found in the Mediterranean region : possibly, 
 owing to the climatic conditions of that locality, it may 
 there be deposited underground, and sometimes hatched 
 before winter. We give in the following table a sum- 
 mary, of the biological cycle of the phylloxera : — 
 
 From the eggs of the sexual individuals are hatched the 
 young insects, which become — 
 
 A. Some gallicolse, then radicolae (always agamous 
 mothers) . 
 
67 
 
 B. Others radicolae : (a) some are agamous mothers ; 
 (b) the others become pupse, then winged insects, which lay 
 the pseudova, whence come, 1st (from the little pseud ova), 
 male sexuals; 2nd (from the large pseudova), female 
 sexuals, which, after fecundation, lay the initial egg. 
 
 Description of Phylloxera vastatrix, its Develop- 
 ment, ETC 
 
 [Extract from the Annual Report of the State (California) Vitioultural 
 Commissioners, 1881.] 
 
 Development of the Pest. 
 
 In all countries that have a real winter the phylloxera 
 hihernates in the form of an egg. The more the winter 
 approaches in its character a mere rainy season, the more 
 the phylloxera develops a tendency to stay over the winter 
 as a perfect insect, in a more or less dormant state. This 
 last form of hibernation seems to be the rule in California ; 
 but the circumstance that the egg has not yet been found 
 is no proof that it should not exist. 
 
 The statements of Planchon, Lichtenstein, and Balbiani, 
 all careful observers, agree perfectly in the description of 
 the insect that comes out of the hibernating egg. This 
 insect tries with its proboscis different spots on the leaves 
 of the 'grapevine, and, after having selected a locality, 
 fastens itself there, producing by the irritation of this process 
 a swelling of the leaf that grows out into a gall, not un- 
 like those caused by the sting of the gall-wasp. Enclosed 
 in this gall, the phylloxera, without having had any sexual 
 intercourse, lays eggs. Planchon has counted them up to 
 nearly eight hundred ; and, after having laid the last egg, 
 the phylloxera dies and dries up, surrounded by the eggs, 
 that soon give birth to a breed of phylloxera. These 
 insects, after having escaped through a fissure on the top 
 of the gall, go through the same process of multiplication 
 by eggs in time of three weeks, only their offspring is con- 
 
68 
 
 siderably less numerous than that of the first generation, 
 developed out of the hibernating egg. Mr. Patio has 
 observed the phylloxera, after having tried several leaves, 
 to descend to the root of the grapevine and enclose 
 itself there in a nodosity analogous to the gall of the leaf. 
 At any rate, it is certain, although it has not been 
 exactly observed, that the phylloxera sucking the sap of 
 the roots without being enclosed in nodosities are the 
 descendants of the gall- as well as the nodosity-building 
 variety. 
 
 Toward the end of the year the phylloxera appears 
 under a new garb. It looks quite a different being, and 
 has adopted the form of a diminutive four-winged fly. 
 This tiny insect has but little command over its flight. It 
 is the toy of any current of air. Thousands of them 
 perish in spider-webs and pools of water, and very few are 
 carried by a lucky wind to a spot favourable for laying a 
 foundation for new generations. This the winged 
 phylloxera does by laying eggs, of which she carries only 
 a few (3-6), but of two kinds — small ones, out of which 
 come males, and larger ones, out of which come females, 
 both wingless. The female of this generation harbours 
 only a single egg, and this is, in the insect kingdom, a very 
 exceptional circumstance. This is the hibernating egg, 
 out of which comes the founder of many generations which 
 follow, and which are non-sexual themselves. As far as 
 this goes the habits of the insect are well observed, and 
 everything is clear. But as to time and circumstances, 
 when the phylloxera leave the gall-building and move about 
 on the roots without enclosing themselves and their off- 
 spring, nothing is known. Maybe the nodosities on the 
 roots are the products of generations that link the gall- 
 buildei's to the phylloxera of the root; 'maybe that galls, 
 as well as nodosities, are only the product of adaptation. 
 There is one thing certain, that there exist districts in- 
 fected by the phylloxera where galls have not yet been 
 observed. Another mystery is connected with the ap- 
 
69 
 
 pearance of the winged generation and its offspring of 
 wingless males and females. 
 
 It has been observed, and not only in the phylloxera, 
 but also in the insects of analogous organization, that an 
 indefinite number of non-sexual generations can follow 
 through years without once producing a generation of 
 males and females. Another queer circumstance is the 
 great irregularity in the appearance of said winged genera- 
 tion and its sexual offspring. The duration of this state 
 is short enough. A few days are sufficient to make them 
 disappear without leaving any trace but the fertilised egg. 
 The phylloxera can propagate through an indefinite number 
 of generations without once appearing in the winged state. 
 This shows that the winged generation is not necessary for 
 the existence of the species. What is, thefl, the object, the 
 function of that form ? We may perhaps express the cir- 
 cumstance in the following way : When we recollect that 
 it is chiefly in climates of a severer winter that the 
 winged phylloxera has been observed, and there always 
 late in the season, and when we further consider that 
 the fertilised egg possesses a much slower development 
 than the non-sexual, which develops shortly after its being 
 laid, so all these circumstances seem to point to the fact 
 that this fertilised egg, by the very slowness of its develop- 
 ment, is better calculated to resist the inclemencies of the 
 winter than the ordinary egg with its quick development, 
 or the phylloxera herself in her torpid dormant state of 
 hibernation. There is in this circumstance an analogy to 
 certain water plants producing two different kinds of 
 spores — moving spores, which have to sprout after a short 
 time or perish, and resting spores, that can remain latent 
 for a long space of time, and develop as soon as circum- 
 stances become favourable. 
 
 Now, these moving spores swarm and sprout till all the 
 water in which they took their first start is filled with their 
 gelatinous masses ; but when, at the end of a season, or 
 when by any other circumstance, the water begins to dry 
 
70 
 
 up, the resting spores are formed, mix with the slime of 
 the pool, when this slime is pulverised by dryness and 
 heat are carried with it to places where sufficient moisture 
 favours their development, or remain latent at the bottom 
 of the pool till rain or inundation fill it again. Now, there 
 is perhaps some analogy between the circumstances that 
 produce in the alga the resting spore, and in the phylloxera 
 the fecundated egg of slow development. Either of them 
 waits for a time or a place more favourable for its develop- 
 ment. Under ordinary circumstances the resting spore of 
 the alga develops with the first rain, the fecundated egg of 
 the phylloxera with the sunshine of spring. Exceptionally, 
 when the supply of water becomes scarce, the resting spore 
 trusts itself to the wings of the wind ; if the sap of the 
 grapevine of one* locality begins to fail, the phylloxera is 
 carried by its winged mothers to new localities. In this 
 way, perhaps, we may account for the irregularities in the 
 time of appearance in regard to the winged phylloxera of 
 milder climates. 
 
 Treatment, Resistants, etc. 
 
 [Remarks of Professor Hilgard at the fifth annual session of the State 
 (California) Viticultural Convention, held at the Grand Hotel, San 
 Francisco, 7th March, 1887. (Extract from annual report.)] 
 
 Professor Hilgard. — I am not prepared to say very 
 much on this occasion — a large part of what has been dis- 
 cussed I will mention in my own paper on Wednesday ; but 
 there is a point which I desire to emphasize very much, and 
 that is, the Chairman's statement as to the ease with which 
 in California the spread of the phylloxera may be avoided 
 really does not justify the rapid spread of the insect ; and I 
 speak advisedly, because I have handled under my own ob- 
 servation a phylloxerated plot for a number of years. Tak- 
 ing hold of the very first one that shows any sign of disease 
 is a perfectly easy and proper way of extirpating the insect. 
 But suppose you find a plot which is infected more widely-^- 
 
71 
 
 and I know a number of gentlemen whose vineyards I 
 visited during the last season who do not suspect that they 
 have it, and will not be told that they have it, and 
 would feel insulted if they were told that they had it; 
 and, if there are any of those present, I will say for their 
 consolation that in order to avoid the spread there is a 
 simple remedy, and that is to spread upon the surface and 
 rake in a pretty good dose of gas-lime, and that prevents 
 the exit of the winged form of the insect ; not an insect will 
 come near the surface at all, and, in fact, you will not find 
 any one within eight or ten inches of the surface. This is 
 the policy that I have pursued at the University plot for 
 several years, and last year, after several years of such treat- 
 ment, we had considerable difficulty in finding specimens. 
 We all the time want specimens for illustration and experi- 
 ment ; but we have done the matter so thoroughly that at 
 the time when the pest was expected to be most lively we 
 had a severe task in getting specimens to show to persons 
 wishing to see the insect. Of course, the insect can be 
 found on the root^or within ten or twelve inches of the 
 surface, but for the winged insects to spread through this 
 layer of gas-lime is impossible, because the winged insect 
 dies from the odour of the acid contained in the gas-lime^ 
 I strongly recommend this, not to be put underground, but 
 to spread it over the surface. 
 
 [Remarks of Mr. Estee at same Session.] 
 Mr. Estee. — .... Now, about six years ago I 
 commenced planting resistants. I dug up every single af- 
 fected vine I could find, and planted resistants, and up to 
 to-day I suppose that in that vineyard of 415 acres I have 
 lost about five acres of vines — not over that — and I know 
 that it has Hbeen there ten years ; but I dug up the vine- 
 yard, put in resistants, and I grafted those resistants the 
 second year, and you can go through my vineyard — and, 
 looking round, I see Mr. Krug and, others-who have been, 
 through it, including the President — and I apprehend that 
 
you would hardly find a spot of phylloxera there. .1 have 
 found it; I know where it was ; and consequently, as a 
 matter of business intelligence, Mr. President, I think the 
 resistant vine is what we have to plant ; and, while I do not 
 deny that there is use in these substances that will kill the 
 phylloxera, yet it is so difficult to kill that it is hardly 
 worth while attempting it. If we commence to-day, for 
 instance, and plant a resistant vine like the wild Riparia in 
 every vacancy in our vineyard, and keep that up for the next 
 nine or ten years, we will hardly appreciate the expense, 
 and finally we will have pretty nearly all resistants in our 
 
 vineyards I have got as poor land as anybody, 
 
 and the phylloxera took the best places in the vineyard. I 
 think it is the deepest place in my vineyard where the phyl- 
 loxera attacked, and ij was planted with old vines, thirty 
 years old. May I interrupt you to say how I grafted these 
 right there, and then you will excuse me. I use cloth 
 soaked in wax, and my man just winds it all round the 
 cutting entirely, so as to make it perfectly solid, so that the 
 roots would not grow out at all, because the wild Riparia 
 is bad about roots. It roots right at the top, and throws 
 out sucker's. It is very bad, and makes a great deal of 
 work. I would do that if I were in your place. 
 
 [Remarks of Mr. Larue at same Sess.iort.1 
 Mr. Larue. — I am very glad that this subject has been 
 mentioned, because I am one of the unfortunate new 
 beginners, and I fell among phylloxera. I have not been 
 so fortunate as my friend Estee. My vineyard, I believe, 
 is only eight years old. I have owned it two. years; and 
 I was informed, and on examination I found, that there 
 was some phylloxera in it; and out of ninety acres, in- 
 stead of pulling out four or five, I pulled out fifteen acres 
 in a solid body this year — pulled the vines out bodily, every 
 one of them— so I know the trouble that I had to meet, 
 and I know that it is one that must be met speedily. I have 
 been investigating the question as to the best resistants to 
 
73 
 
 stand by, conversing with those who are experimenting, 
 and by making examinations to some extent of vines that 
 have been planted. And while speaking of it I will say 
 that where the vines were infested was the finest character 
 of soil : it is in Napa Valley, near Yountville ; not low 
 land, but high valley land, of warm character, ddep soil, 
 slightly intermixed with gravel, black, nice loam — elegant 
 first-class soil. I examined a short time ago some re- 
 sistants that had been planted by the men who owned the 
 property before I did, and found them growing success- 
 fully where old vines had been pulled out and the resistant 
 vines immediately planted. Last year I grafted it, and I 
 examined it and found it healthy and growing vigorously. 
 That was the Riparia. I took the liberty' of going over 
 into my neighbour's place, who had first discovered 
 phylloxera in his ground — who had removed his vines and 
 replanted principally with Vinifera — on a space as large as 
 this room, and last year he removed every Vinifera from 
 ten acres. The Calif ornica are there with shoots running 
 four or five feet, with bodies as large as my wrist. On 
 examining the roots I found phylloxera in abundance, but 
 the vines seemed to be thrifty and vigorous, and doing well. 
 Last year I planted about twenty-five acres of resistant roots, 
 one year old, a portion of them Californica and a portion 
 Riparia. This winter we had occasion to cut some draiu- 
 ditches through some low places in the land, and we ran 
 through the two varieties ; and my foreman said, when he 
 got through, " I never would plant another Riparia ; there 
 are ten roots growing in the ground from the Californica 
 where is one from the Riparia." He argued from that 
 that it was a more vigorous grower, and from the examina- 
 tion we made we thought it was fully as resistant. Of 
 course, we are only experimenting. I have been very 
 much interested in this matter, because it is a very valu- 
 able vineyard, and my loss has been very great — -fifteen 
 acres out of ninety"; and of course I am very much in- 
 terested in the question. 
 
74' 
 
 [Extracts from the Second AimuaL'Beport of ;the Committee on Phyl- 
 loxera, &c, to the State (California) Viticultural Commissioners, 
 1881. (Appendix.)] 
 
 Therefore we recommend as the most practical means of 
 preventing unnecessary spread of the phylloxera and fun- 
 goid diseases for this coming season of planting, the adop- 
 tion and declaration of quarantine rules, as follows : — 
 
 First — That the cuttings of grapevines made in this. 
 State for plantations outside of the vineyards where made 
 shall be required to be made solely from the new wood of 
 the preceding season's growth ; all old wood to be removed 
 in order to prevent spreading contagion by means of the 
 winter egg of the phylloxera, which, according to the best 
 entomologists, is only found on the old wood, the new 
 wood being free from them. 
 
 Second — That all cuttings and rooted vines imported from 
 any region or country outside the State shall be required 
 to be disinfected at the place of first consignment within 
 the State before distributed or planted ; the method of 
 disinfection to be at the option of those to whom such 
 cuttings and roots are consigned, provided that it be some 
 one of the methods which have been experimented with 
 and proved eflicacious by the chief executive officer of the 
 Commission, full details of which will be made public. 
 
 Third — That all persons planting new vineyards within 
 the State shall be advised and strongly urged to consider 
 all roots and cuttings suspected, regardless of origin, and 
 to thoroughly disinfect them, thereby, accomplishing the 
 destruction of all possible germs of insect pests upon them, 
 as well as also those of fungoid disease, which are becom- 
 ing dangerous in all parts of the country. 
 
 Fourth — That, for the convenience and protection of all 
 interested parties throughout the State, the. Chief Exe- 
 cutive Officer shall be requested to appoint resident in- 
 spectors, as provided for by law, for each section or region 
 where vine-growers desire the same, and upon their appli- 
 cation to him for such appointments ; applications to b& 
 
75 
 
 made by practical vine-growers and those intending imme- 
 diately to plant new vineyards directly to the Chief Exe- 
 cutive Officer, Charles A. Wetmore, No. Ill, Leidesdorff 
 Street, San Francisco, and also that he shall appoint such 
 inspectors at other points where their services seem posi- 
 tively to be required. 
 
 Fifth — That blank forms for certificates of disinfection 
 shall be furnished to inspectors, and that the fee to be 
 charged by inspectors for such certificates, made out in 
 duplicate, shall not exceed 50 cents in each case, the fees 
 and penalties in case of evasion of rules and seizures 
 to be the amounts prescribed by law. 
 
 The methods of disinfection which the experience of 
 this Committee, through the experimental work of the 
 Chief Executive Officer, aided by the constant labours of 
 our Secretary, causes us to recommend for general use and 
 for application any one of the same, in cases where disin- 
 fection is absolutely required by the rules, are as follows : — 
 
 For cuttings and rooted vines : 
 
 First — Dissolve sulpho-carbonate of potassium in cold 
 water — proportions, ten pounds of sulpho-carbonate to 
 one hundred gallons of water; immerse cuttings and 
 rooted vines fifteen minutes. 
 
 Second — Dissolve Little's Soluble Phenyl by pouring 
 upon it cold water in the proportions of 50 gallons of 
 water to 1 gallon of the" phenyl ; immerse cuttings and 
 rooted vines ten minutes. 
 
 Third — Take two parts heavy oil of coal-tar, two parts 
 water, and one part carbonate of potash or carbonate of 
 soda ; put in covered vessel and heat gently to boiling- 
 point for one hour ; replace water lost by evaporation ; 
 pour into suitable vessels and agitate violently; dilute 
 with fifty parts of cold water ; immerse cuttings and rooted 
 vines ten minutes. 
 
 Fourth — Dissolve carbolic - acid crystals in water, in 
 proportion of lib. of acid to 20 gallons of water. Im- 
 merse cuttings and rooted vines ten minutes. 
 
76 
 
 Fifth — Dissolve sulphate of potash in the proportion of 
 lib. to 20 gallons of water. Immerse cuttings and rooted 
 vines twenty minutes. 
 
 Sixth — Dilute one part of " liver of lime " in twenty 
 parts of water. Immerse cuttings and rooted vines ten 
 minutes. 
 
 The foregoing disinfectants are believed to be quite 
 efficient for the purpose and safe in practice. The solu- 
 tions of sulphate of copper (blue vitriol) and sulphate of 
 iron (green vitriol) may be advantageously used upon 
 cuttings for disinfection against fungoid germs, but our 
 experience indicates that the time of immersion required 
 to destroy the phylloxera is too long to be practically 
 followed. When used, we recommend the sulphate of 
 iron in preference to the sulphate of copper, the former 
 being a good fertiliser or stimulant for the vine. Rooted 
 vines should not be washed or soaked in solution of sul- 
 phate of copper or iron. The roots are destroyed easily 
 by this remedy. 
 
 Other disinfectants might also be used, but we recom- 
 mend only those which our experience proves valuable, and 
 which may easily be obtained by those requiring them. 
 
 [Extract from trie First Eeport of the Committee on Phylloxera, &o 
 (Appendix P.)] 
 
 Carbon-bisulphide for the Phylloxera. — By John H. Wheeler. 
 
 There have arisen of late many arguments in favour of 
 the manufacture of carbon-bisulphide on the Pacific Coast, 
 and it is pursuant to the advice of the Viticultural Com- 
 mission and to that of Professor Hilgard, of the University 
 of California, that its manufacture is now begun. Professor 
 Hilgard has for, some time urged strenuously upon the 
 people the necessity of the reagent as well for vermin, 
 squirrels, &c, as a remedy for phylloxera. Now that the 
 work has actually begun,- much is being done to bring it 
 before the public. The St. Helena wine-growers, on 6th 
 November, passed a resolution to recommend the bisul- 
 
77 
 
 phide as the best known remedy for phylloxera, approved 
 of the author's investigations, and pledged him encourage- 
 ment by every means in their power. Other encourage- 
 ment has been given, and the scheme has so far met with 
 general approval. 
 
 The fui'ther one goes into the study of the bisulphide 
 the more favourable it seems as an insecticide. To the 
 chemist its superiority is immediately apparent. As a 
 poison, the vapour acts immediately upon small animals, 
 vermin, and insects generally, but the larger animals it 
 affects but little. Used as a liquid it immediately turns 
 to vapour, which, by virtue of its great specific gravity, 
 sinks immediately to the desired spot. Its strong odour 
 serves many useful purposes — a warning to prevent its ex- 
 plosion or excessive inhalation. It has resisted practical 
 proof during five years past; it is cheap, and contains one 
 of the ingredients found in nearly all proposed insecticides 
 — viz., sulphur ; and it seems to fill the requirements most 
 admirably. 
 
 The materials from which carbon-bisulphide is made are 
 sulphur and carbon in some available form ; the main 
 principle of their combination is. simple, but, owing to the 
 poisonous nature of its vapours and to the easy volatility 
 of the liquids, together with its explosibility, there arises 
 considerable expense incident to the condensing, storing, 
 and transportation. It is stored and transported in heavy 
 iron barrels, the expense of which becomes considerable ; 
 in consequence, it is impracticable to import the bisulphide 
 - — it must be made here. The location of the works is at 
 West Berkeley, at a point convenient for shipping by. water 
 or rail to all parts of the State. These works will begin 
 on the 13th December, producing 12,0001b. per month. 
 This large capacity is chosen to lessen the price, for with 
 this quantity a great economy of fuel, labour, and sulphur 
 is effected. It is not expected that this quantity will at 
 first be used monthly, but to effect the above economy 
 this factory will not run continuously. From this point 
 
78 
 
 the bisulphide is to be delivered free on board cars or boat 
 at 8c. per pound. This rate is to apply only where a quan- 
 tity is taken sufficient to supply half-acre vineyards, or of 
 greater extent — viz., 1421b. or more; for squirrels and 
 experimental work 12c. per pound will be charged, to pay 
 for immediate handling and vessels used. Now, making 
 our estimates on this according to directions for use, as 
 deduced by the French, we have the following as the 
 cost of carbon-bisulphide : Thirty-two grammes per square 
 metre, the greatest amount necessary, if divided between, 
 two applications, to totally extinguish the phylloxera, is 
 equivalent to 2851b. per acre ; this, at 8c. per pound, makes 
 a cost of $22 80c. Or, again, reckoning for each vine, sup- 
 posing our vines 65ft. apart each way, which makes about a 
 thousand vines per acre, we have per vine 4 - 56oz., at 8c. per 
 pound, which makes a cost of 2"8c. per vine. It must 
 be borne in mind that, although we have made an estimate 
 per vine, the vapour is not to surround the vine only, but 
 to completely fill the whole body of the soil between the 
 vines, as well as at its tap-roots, in order that not one of 
 the insects ■ shall escape its effect. For vines at different 
 distances apart, different rules must be observed for dividing 
 up the quantity per acre, which, therefore, when determined 
 by the Commission or experiment, will be tabulated, and 
 go with the directions which accompany each barrel. The 
 smaller expenses I have not entered into here, they being 
 so inconsiderable and differing in different localities. The 
 price has varied in San Francisco between 36c. and 60c. 
 per pound. The lowest at which it can be purchased here 
 now is 28c. per pound. The lowest figures I have been 
 able to get is from Eastern chemists, who furnish bisulphide 
 at 9c. per pound : adding to this $18 per 1,0001b. for the 
 iron drums in which it is transported, and a heavy cost of 
 transportation, and we are precluded from its use unless 
 manufactured here. The means adopted in our manufac- 
 tory of selling the bisulphide will be identical with those in 
 France — viz., on ordering a lot, a deposit will be made as 
 
79 
 
 security for the barrel, which, on return of the barrel in 
 good condition, will be refunded to the purchaser, thus 
 saving the consumer the expense of the vessel. 
 
 Regarding the instrument with which the bisxilphide is 
 injected, the latest improvement used in France will be had, 
 a sample of which is expected daily. The cost of the in- 
 jector is, in. France, $8. A slight advance on this will be 
 the cost in California. It is proposed to keep constantly 
 on hand, at the manufactory at Berkeley, a supply of in- 
 jectors, to be sold or rented. The injector consists of a 
 steel tube, pointed at its lower end, and attached^to a zinc 
 tank above. The whole is of a convenient length, and has a 
 cross-piece for a handle above the tank. Below the tank, 
 and attached to the steel tube, is a projection on which to 
 apply foot -power in inserting the instrument into the 
 ground. When arriving at the proper depth, a button on 
 top is struck sharply with the hand, which, by means of an 
 arrangement within, forces out from the bottom end of the 
 steel tube the amount required for each injection. Care is 
 required in the filling and use of this instrument, but any 
 ordinary workman can manipulate it without trouble. The 
 work is done very rapidly, two men being required, one to 
 use the injector and the other a tamper, which is an iron 
 bar with a heavy end, by which the hole made by the in- 
 jector is choked or sealed up. These two men make three 
 hundred injections per hour, and require three days to do 
 one acre of vineyard. 
 
 With the object in view of preparing the bisulphide for 
 phylloxera, it has become my province to investigate the 
 application of the insecticide. To do this, I have made a 
 thorough study of the leading authors among the French, 
 who, having had the largest experience with both the insect 
 and its remedy, seem most competent to instruct. The 
 work of the Comite Regional, instituted under the auspices 
 of the Compagnie dte Chemin de Fer de Paris a Lyon et 
 a Mediterranee, has been my special study — the result fof 
 which I endeavoured to present to the public by a series 
 
80 
 
 of articles published in the Pacific Rural Press, beginning 
 with the 23rd October. Articles have been published by me 
 in various other papers from time to time, as 1 found new 
 and valuable matter to add to the first. With this know- 
 ledge of the use of bisulphide, and with the interest I have 
 in the viticultural industry of California, being myself a 
 member of the St. Helena Vine-growers, I shall make it a 
 point to pursue the dreaded phylloxera to the very utmost. 
 Much depends on the accuracy with which the directions 
 in all particulars are complied with. It therefore becomes 
 my special aim to see that the first use of the insecticide 
 is made correctly. Ever following the dictation and advice 
 of the Commission, I hope we may, after a fair trial, say, 
 with Professor Marion, Professor of the Faculty of Sciences 
 of Marseilles, and Member of the Superior Phylloxera Com- 
 mission, that " we are in possession of a complete and effi> 
 cacious remedy for the unwelcome phyljoxera." About the 
 15th December the first "'application of bisulphide will be 
 made in Mr. Weinberger's vineyard, near St. Helena. A 
 number of other places have been spoken for, and from 
 these I propose to make a complete canvass of the phyl- 
 loxerated districts, to operate on all those vineyards where 
 the remedy seems acceptable. Regarding the best time for 
 the application, the French use the winter months mostly; 
 but this may vary, and will be directed by the Commission 
 and experience. 
 
 [Extracts from the Second Annual Report of the Chief Executive 
 Viticultural Officer to the State (California) Viticultural Commis- 
 sioners, 1882-83 and 1883-84.] 
 
 (No. 1.) 
 
 We have learned sufficient already to be able to make 
 public certain conclusions, viz. : — 
 
 First — That the ravages of phylloxera do not threaten 
 rapid destruction of vineyards in this State. 
 
 Second— That by using wise precaution in disinfecting 
 cuttings before planting, and avoiding the use of rooted 
 
81 
 
 vines from infected districts, new plantations may be made 
 with little danger of infection, except in the direction of 
 prevailing summer winds that blow from diseased places. 
 
 Third — That whenever infection is discovered in a vine- 
 yard prompt action in substituting resistant stocks for those 
 diseased will not only check the evil, but will result in 
 such a gradual reconstitution of the vines that the extra 
 expenses and losses will not be severely felt by the 
 proprietors. 
 
 Fourth — That in all cases of new plantations in the 
 directions of known contagion, only resistant stocks should 
 he planted. 
 
 Fifth — That fear of future trouble from this pest may 
 be avoided in any case by planting resistant stocks, even 
 though present infection is not feared. 
 
 Sixth — That grafting upon resistant stocks may be 
 easily accomplished without extraordinary expenses, and 
 that the cost is more ■ than compensated by the increased 
 vigour and fruitfulness of the vineyards so treated. 
 
 Seventh — That, in substituting resistant stocks for.thosfe 
 diseased, efforts should be made to eradicate as carefully as 
 possible the insects already accumulated on the roots that 
 cannot be removed, or that are grafted. This is important 
 as a means of removing danger from the vicinity of vines 
 not infected, or of reducing the force of the invasions, and 
 as a protection to the young roots of the resistant stocks, 
 which, while they resist, may be in a measure checked in 
 growth by the efforts of the insects to maintain their posi- 
 tion. The bisulphide of carbon and the sulpho-carbonate 
 of potassium are the best known agents for disinfecting 
 the diseased spots. 
 
 Eighth — That, although submersion of infected spots 
 may preserve a vineyard wherever practicable, if practised 
 annually after the disease is known to exist in it, yet the 
 simplest and cheapest remedyj even where land is level and 
 water plenty, will be found in using resistant vin.es as sub- 
 stitutes, this being a permanent defence. i 
 6 
 
82 
 
 Ninth — That all vine-growers should commence by ex- 
 perimenting at once with the best known resistant stocks 
 in limited numbers, so as to determine in case of need 
 which varieties wiH 'flourish best in their soils, and to afford 
 themselves and their workmen the opportunity to learn by 
 practice the simple art of grafting. 
 
 ' (No. 2.') 
 American Resistant Stocks. 
 
 I shall refer only briefly to American stocks for grafting 
 — not those valuable for their fruit. This subject has been 
 fully treated upon in my first annual report to the Commis- 
 sion, excepting perhaps the latest knowledge concerning the 
 californica and arizonica. I shall now only dwell on this 
 topic sufficiently to speak of three species which I consider 
 most important. The Vitis rupestris is worth much atten- 
 ■tipn, but has not yet been grafted upon sufficiently to 
 warrant unqualified opinions. It grows well on dry hill- 
 sides. I am propagating the Champin hybrid of rupestris 
 and Mustang, which roots easily from cuttings, and grows 
 vigorously. 
 
 Vitis riparia. — This wild species grows in the Mississippi 
 and Missouri Valleys, having the widest range of adapta- 
 bility known to any vine. It is now the favourite grafting- 
 stock in Europe, it grows- easily from cuttings, and is re- 
 liable as a resistant vine. Seeds can be procured by those 
 who wish to propagate seedlings. 
 
 Vitis californica. — This is the native wild vine of 
 California. I was the first to send it and the V. arizonica 
 to Europe for experiment, and have cultivated and propa- 
 gated it largely for four years." It is certainly a resistant 
 vine ; our experiments in Sonoma clearly demonstrate this 
 fact. It is also a vigorous grower when in cultivated 
 ground, and makes a stouter trunk to graft into than any 
 other of the wild species now used. It strikes deep tap- 
 roots, and takes the graft of all the European varieties that 
 
83 
 
 have been triefl, with great facility. In my opinion, all its" 
 merits being considered, it is superior as ' a grafting-stock to 
 all others. It does not take root readily from cuttings — 
 so the plant must be, for practical purposes, propagated 
 f ram the seed^ which is riot difficult to accomplish. About 
 350,000 seedling californicas have been planted in this 
 State during the last three years. Where there are summer 
 rains or sea fogs it is very subject to mildew ; but such 
 conditions which trouble this species in France are not ap- 
 preciable in California." 
 
 Vitis arizonica. — This is the wild vine of Arizona. My 
 .first qssays were with seed procured at an altitude of 
 6,000ft. above the sea. It is unlike in growth any other 
 species of American vine. It makes a straight, thrifty 
 stalk from the seed, and is more robust in the trunk than 
 the riparia. It is a most resistant vine. In San Diego 
 County I have seen a specimen seedling, which I sent to 
 Major Merriam, outstripping all others in the experimental 
 block. With me in the Livermore Valley it prospers, but 
 does not quite equal the californica in. growth. It can be 
 propagated from cuttings with fair success. For two years 
 I have failed to obtain fresh seed, the crop of wild fruit 
 having dropped before maturity. I believe it will grow 
 well on our most arid hillsides. There is no doubt of the 
 very greatest resistance to phylloxera with this species. It 
 appears to be absolutely proof — more so than any other that 
 we have used. 
 
 [Extract from the Annual Report of I. De Turk, Commissioner for 
 the Sonoma District, to the Board of State (California) Viticultvtral 
 Commissioners, 1887.] 
 
 I am happy in being able to report that Mr. Dressell 
 and others ,of Sonoma have proven beyond a doubt that 
 the native wild vine of the Eastern States, Vitis riparia, 
 thoroughly resists the phylloxera. Further,, it is prac- 
 tically demonstrated that the grafting of fine European 
 varieties on this resistant stock is a grand success. 
 
1887. 
 
 1885. 
 
 66,662 
 
 50,847 
 
 165,512 
 
 101,4-62 
 
 22,050 
 
 13,067 
 
 416,292 
 
 188,205 ,: 
 
 84 
 
 "[Extract from the Report of 3. H. Wheeler, Chief Executive Viti- 
 oultural and Health Officer, to the Board of State (California) Viti- 
 eultural Commissioners, 1887.] 
 
 The reports of the Commission issued heretofore con- 
 cerning this pest, and the best remedies for its extermina- 
 tion which we have urged for adoption, are more than ever 
 confirmed at the time of this writing. As proof of this, I 
 am able to give the following, which I translate from the 
 report of the Commission Superieure du Phylloxera, of 
 France, for 1887, representing as it does the results of 
 unlimited experiments and long years of practical work : — 
 
 " The struggle against the phylloxera goes on by submer- 
 sion, insecticides, and by' replanting with American vines 
 in the following proportion : — 
 
 " Submersion, number of acres treated 
 Sulphide of carbon, number of acres treated 
 Sulpho-carbonate, number of acres treated 
 American vines, number of acres treated . . 
 
 It may thus be seen that great preference is shown fo . 
 resistant vines, the acreage rising in two years from 
 188,205 acres, to the enormous figures of 416,292 acres. 
 ' This answers the question so often put to me by vine- 
 growers, " Are resistant vines a success ? " We have pub- 
 lished advice on this subject continually, but there do not 
 exist to-day in the whole State two thousand acres of re- 
 sistant vines. Those resistants which have been properly 
 selected, planted, and cared for are to-day monuments of 
 success, but they are too few to save us from the growing 
 ravages of this pest. 
 
 It will be noted in the above that the use of carbon- 
 bisulphide has largely increased in France ; that the use of 
 sulpho-carbonates, because of the great expense attached, 
 has grown less popular. The number of vineyards sub- 
 merged is nearly constant, because of the special natural 
 requirements of this process. 
 
 California vineyardists can point with pride and assurance 
 to the planting of grafted' resistant vines belonging to 
 Mr. Julius Dressel, of Sonoma, where, in' the midst of 
 
85 
 
 ravaging phylloxera, and on soil of very moderate worth, 
 a magnificent yield of choice varieties has already been 
 secured by this means. Others have been similarly suc- 
 cessful in growing and grafting resistant vines ; but I have, 
 as yet, found no other test so severe in its nature as that 
 conducted at Mr. DressePs vineyard. Mr. Dressel states 
 that he is perfectly satisfied with the riparia as a grafting- 
 stock — easy to root, and sufficiently vigorous in his soil to 
 supply any vigorous-growing variety. The Lenoir has 
 been growing rapidly in favour in California, because of 
 its rapid development and easy grafting. It proves diffi- 
 cult to root, but is preferred over the riparia and some 
 Others, because it furnishes a wine suitable for blending 
 as a direct producer. But grafting is both expensive and 
 slow, and, in fact, the value of carrying on any warfare 
 may be somewhat altered by the present depressed con- 
 dition of the wine-making industry and the popularity and 
 improved value of other branches of agriculture in Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
 [Extract from the Annual Report of the State (California) Vitioultural 
 Commissioners, 1881.] 
 
 The Enemies of Phylloxera — Nature's Remedy. 
 
 Nature always tries, and tries successfully, to restore a 
 halance of power in her productions. The phylloxera 
 itself, or, at least, its devastations, are a consequence of the 
 balance in nature being disturbed by the culture of a single, 
 plant in certain localities to the exclusion of others. We 
 will now see what plan nature adopts for destroying the 
 phylloxera. We have seen how the exclusive culture of the 
 grapevine has attracted and multiplied the parasite that 
 feeds upon it. In the same measure, now, multiply the 
 beings that prey upon the phylloxera, and they also will 
 disappear, or, at least, diminish, when, the phylloxera has 
 "been reduced to a number that does not any more disturb 
 the balance in nature. Not all the enemies of this parasite 
 are known. I am to enumerate here only those whose 
 
86 
 
 predilection for phylloxera- blood is' well established;, and 
 sufficiently effective to come under our consideration. The* 
 phylloxera, owing to her subterranean habits, is, not very 
 accessible to birds. The influence of birds on insect-life 
 is generally overrated. Amongst the insects that know 
 how to find the phylloxera are some beetles of the tribes' 
 called Carabides and Staphylinides, that destroy in all 
 their stages of development a great number of phylloxera. 
 Staphylinides may occasionally he seen on grapes-. They 
 do not feed on them, but are apt to impart to the grape a 
 disagrseable smell. But we had better allow them that' 
 little extravagance, as during their long existence in the 
 larva state they live chie'fly on animal food — on fellows 
 that are smaller than themselves. 
 
 There are several 'beetles related to the Spanish fly that 
 feed' iif their larva state, on and under ground, on eggs and 
 small larvae of ' aphidians, as well as grasshoppers. Certain 
 wasps that keep their young ones in subterranean galleries 
 feed them also on phylloxera and its relations. You pro-; 
 bably have observed on the stocks of rosebuds infected by 
 leaf -lice (aphis) a little green maggot, shaped like a leech, 
 and moving about very much like such. This is the larva 
 of a fly (Syrphus), somewhat smaller than our housefly. If 
 you observe what he is doing there, you will find that it is 
 hot for the sake of company that he frequents that crowd 
 of leaf -lice. A similar maggot, only smaller, visits stem 
 and root of the grapevine, where it devours considerable 
 quantities of phylloxera. Then there is a tribe of four- 
 winged flies, somewhat of the structure of the dragon-fly, 
 but considerably smaller, and the wings neither elevated 
 (Agrion), nor flattened but like those of the real dragon- 
 flies (Libellula), but folded round the body like those of a 
 moth. This insect, called Hemerobius, destroys in its 
 winged state aphidians, and perhaps also some gall-building 1 
 phylloxera; in its wingless larva state, it preys on aphidians 
 oi all kinds, following them from leaves to twigs, and from 
 twigs to stems, from stems to roots. It has been found in 
 
87 
 
 company with the phylloxera, of course not as their friend> 
 The class of the spiders and mites (Arachnidse) are all 
 carnivorous, and many species prey on the plentiful and 
 defenceless phylloxera. 
 
 A Erench lady, Madame de Bompar, mentions especially 
 a little mite called Tbrombidium as. an active destroyer. I 
 am not quite satisdjed in regard to the predilection of this 
 little being for the phylloxera; at least, it lives not 
 exclusively on aphidians. Mrs. Wetmure, who raises in 
 a box our native grapevine ( Vitis califarniea) for the sake 
 of experiment, found a great many of these minute mites 
 on the roots, where we could not trace a single phylloxera. 
 But the web-making spiders do really good work ; 
 especially the smaller species of ground spiders, that 
 fasten their nets between twigs, are perhaps even of greater 
 use, as they destroy the winged generation, inaccessible to 
 all the destroyers enumerated before. How many of the 
 winged aphidians die without being able to propagate, we 
 can form an idea by examining those spider-webs that are 
 left by their owners, so that the tiny 'customers that caught 
 themselves in their meshes are no more removed. There 
 may be many more enemies of the phylloxera besides those 
 enumerated, for many things that happen every moment 
 among the little things underground escape our notice. It 
 is certain there are more victims of that miscroscopic war- 
 fare than we generally imagine. Entomologists are well 
 acquainted with the fact that insects that are excessively 
 common through a certain time disappear sometimes 
 suddenly as if swept away by an epidemic. At any rate, 
 a diminution of the phylloxera pest is to be expected 
 before they have ruined our vines. 
 
 Among the insect pests mentioned by different authors, 
 there is perhaps none that bears so much analogy to our 
 case as the invasion of the apple-trees of north-western 
 Europe by a certain relation of our phylloxera, the 
 Myzoxylus. I once found among old papers an account of 
 the devastations of this insect, the despair it caused in the 
 
88 
 
 cider-making districts/ and very many remedies recom- 
 mended. The insect still exists, but in very moderate pro- 
 portion. Which of the many remedies recommended has 
 reduced the Myzoxylus to a more reasonable style of living 
 I could not find. I think, none of them. Medical men 
 know very well the more remedies they possess against a 
 disease the more incurable it is. I do not assume to 
 criticize the different methods recommended for the destruc- 
 tion of the phylloxera, but their very number appears to 
 me a proof that none of them has answered. 
 
 Necessity for the Adoption of Nature's Rules. 
 
 Let us follow the way nature has pointed out to us. 
 First let us isolate the infected patches as much as possible. 
 The subterranean phylloxera cannot spread when we do 
 not prepare its way by ploughing and weeding the vicinity. 
 
 Then let us favour as much as possible those insects 
 which we know feed on aphidians, especially the spiders ; 
 we must protect their webs. It is true they are not 
 ornamental, but they are the most effective means to pre- 
 vent the winged phylloxera from colonising other parts of 
 the vineyard. 
 
 I have to mention yet the ant as a friend and patron of 
 leaf-lice, which he keeps as cattle, and colonises them in 
 his subterranean galleries. There is not a fact of this kind 
 known in regard to phylloxera, but, at any rate, the ant is 
 a suspicious neighbour, and his hills have to be destroyed. 
 
 Till science has given us a destroying medium of quicker 
 action, let us imitate and assist the slow but effective pro- 
 cess begun by nature, and, whatever plan we adopt, let ns 
 act in concert. 
 
89 
 
 THE GRAFTING OF AMERICAN VINES. 
 
 [Extract from the First Report of the Committee on Phylloxera, &o , 
 1881. (Appendix I.)] 
 
 [Synopsis of Practical' Lectures on " Grafting of American 
 Vines," compiled by the Central Agricultural Society of 
 ike Department of the Herault, and delivered in lectures 
 by Professor G. Fo'ex at the National Agricultural School 
 of Montpellier, France, 8th, 9th, and 10th March, 1890. 
 Translated from the French by Mr. E. W. Pailhet.~\ 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 The following work must not be considered as a scientific 
 treatise on grafting of American vines ; it lias simply been 
 published to allow agricultural students who may attend 
 the practical lectures delivered at the Agricultural School 
 to obtain a succinct synopsis of the instruction given them. 
 In fact, with our actual positive knowledge of this 
 subject, it would be premature to give a definite exhibit 
 of it, and to consider our instructions as absolute. The 
 authors have tried to make a short and clear description 
 of the processes most generally used, and which experience 
 has justified the best. They hope that, owing to the 
 activity with which the knowledge of grafting is now being 
 acquired, this publication will soon be far behind in im- 
 provements that may be made. They only hope it will be 
 of some use at present, and be the starting-point of gi'eat 
 and rapid improvements in the future. 
 
 Chapter I. '" '' ' 
 
 Plants on which Vines can be grafted. 
 
 * 
 
 The vine can only be grafted on the vine. Grafts which 
 have been tried on the mulberry, clematis, blackberry, 
 vigne vierge (ampelopsis) , &c, have produced no results up 
 to this day. 
 
90 
 
 Selection of Varieties of American Vines which give the Best 
 ; Results as Grafting-stock. 
 
 It is demonstrated by all the experiments made up to 
 tbis date on American vines that all, with the exception 
 of the Scuppernong, wilii. bear graftis of out vines. Ex- 
 perience has i not yeti proved definitely the value of the 
 different varieties of 1 vines in this point of view. The 
 various varieties of the Riparia group (formerly Cordifolia) 
 ai'e at present selected in preference to, alb others as gi*aft- 
 bearers, on account of their small price and the easy rooting 
 of their cuttings ; nevertheless, certain iEstivalis, such as 
 the Jacquez, the Cunningham, the Herbemont, &c, make 
 very good stocks, and can be easily utilised when they can 
 be had with roots without too much difficulty, or in using 
 the internode grafting process of Mr. Champin. 
 
 The most valuable variety amongst the Riparia, on 
 account' of its vigour, which allows it to grow; easily in 
 many places, is the wild Riparia (formerly wild Cordifolia) . 
 
 Value of American Stocks as Graffebearers for Certain of 
 our Varieties. 
 
 This, question, like the preceding, is now being carefully 
 studied, and it is rather difficult to give a definite opinion 
 concerning it ; however, fine grafts of Aramon, Garignane, 
 Petit Bouschet, Verit Noii-j Cinsaut, Morrastel, &c,", have 
 been observed on the Clinton. 
 
 It has been noticed that, the, Aramon has not given as 
 good results on the Taylor as on the Clinton, but that 
 the other French stocks mentioned above, and especially 
 the Terret Bourret, the Chasselas, the Muscat, the Olivette, 
 have prospered well on it. 
 
 The Solbnis, seldom grafted* upon to, this date, supports 
 theEetit Bouschet very successfully. 
 
 Excellent results have been obtained on the wild Riparia 
 with the Aramon, the Carignane, the Aspiran, and the 
 Cinsaut. 
 
91 
 
 We have found the same good results on the Herbeinont 
 with. the Aramon, the Carignane, and the various varieties 
 of hard wood. 
 
 The Jacquez, which has been but little used for this 
 purpose, has fine prospects as a graft-bearer of our various 
 varieties, and amongst them of the Aramon. 
 
 Age at which the Stock can bear the Graft. 
 
 When the cuttings are of a proper size, they cau be 
 grafted the year after planting them. In this case the 
 English cleft-graft should be used, and. fruit may be 
 produced the third year after the planting of the cutting. 
 
 Grafting may also be made either on ordinary cuttings 
 before planting them, or on internodes, or rooted plants. 
 Unfortunately, these last two ways of proceeding, which 
 have given very satisfactory results in certain cases, have 
 not succeeded as well as the first when, in our climate, their 
 use is generalised. In suitable spots, grafts made on 
 cuttings will have the advantage of furnishing stocks 
 which, when planted in a nursery, and replanted the 
 following year, with the part where they have been joined 
 placed above the ground, will be in a good condition to 
 avoid the chances of being broken apart. 
 
 Chapter II. 
 
 Selection of the Graft — Size and Appearance of the Cuttings. 
 
 The cuttings fit for being used as grafts must be selected 
 from healthy and good bearing-stocks. They must be. well 
 ripened by the summer heat, provided with all their eyes, 
 be of middling size, and contain little pith. These last 
 conditions, which are met with in cuttings from old stocks,, 
 are important to follow, as then the wood is less apt to 
 split, when the graft is driven into the^ cutting, and thb 
 growth of the graft more certain. With cuttings from> 
 
92 
 
 young stocks, which are softer and more easily dried, the 
 chances of success are much smaller." 
 
 Season for making the Cuttings. 
 
 To be sure of successful grafting, the grafting-stock 
 should he in advance of the graft in progress of vegetation, 
 and for this reason it is necessary to gather before the 
 rising of the sap all cuttings that are to be used as grafts. 
 This work must be done, at the latest, before the beginning 
 of February. 
 
 How to preserve the Grafts. 
 
 The cuttings chosen to be used as grafts are to be kept 
 in places where they will neither dry nor be injured by the 
 damp atmosphere, which would occasion vegetation. To 
 realise these conditions, you can proceed as is done in the 
 Herault, where the grafting-stock is kept in cellars, and 
 covered with sand, or bound in small bundles, which are placed, 
 upright in a trench of 4^ft. to 6ft. deep. This trench must 
 be made under cover, or on the northern side of a high 
 wall, and the cuttings buried in sand and covered with 
 damp earth. When removed from the trench, they should 
 not be kept in contact with the air, as they will dry much 
 quicker than in- ordinary circumstances. 
 
 How to ascertain the Vitality of the Grafts. 
 
 When, after making a section of a cutting, the green 
 layer under the bark is found dried or blackened, it is very 
 probable that it has lost its vitality. The most accurate 
 way of judging the quality of the graft is to place some of 
 them, prcked here and there in the bundles, in a vessel full 
 of water, and to leave them for a few days in a temperate 
 atmosphere, in the sun if possible. If the buds swell and 
 open, or if water beads on the end of a section made on 
 the upper part of the cutting, you can be sure that the 
 cuttings are in a good condition to be retained. 
 
93 
 
 Chapter III. 
 Season for Grafting. 
 
 As a rule, grafts after being made ought to join quickly 
 together. Now, as the connection of the graft will only 
 begin at the time when the sap runs, it is preferable to wait 
 for that time. Grafts made too soon run risks which it is 
 important to avoid : the uncovered tissues will . dry, or 
 undergo, according to atmospherical circumstances, other 
 alterations which will prevent their connection ; and, besides, 
 the spring frosts may, in destroying the buds, or in suddenly 
 stopping the vegetation, greatly compromise the future of 
 the work. It is generally during the end of the month of 
 March and in the month of April that grafting succeeds 
 the best in our part of the country. If many failures were 
 made in the year 1879 in the work done at that time in the 
 Herault, they must be considered as the result of the excep- 
 tional amount of wet, cold, and frosty weather. 
 
 Favourable Circumstances for Grafting. 
 
 The best time to choose for this work is cloudy and 
 temperate weather, but without rain, and it is important 
 that the soil should be well mellowed, to facilitate the earth- 
 in g-up of the soil around the plant. 
 
 Chapter IV. 
 
 Systems of Grafting adapted to the Vines. 
 
 Practically, grafting can only be done underground ; 
 grafts made above the ground seldom prosper, as the action 
 of the air generally, dries the parts in contact before they 
 join together. Experience has also demonstrated that the 
 various systems of cleft-grafting are preferable to grafting 
 by approach. 
 
94. 
 
 The best-known amongst the former systems of grafting 
 are, the common cleft-graft, graft a la Pontoise or by in- 
 crustation, English cleft-graft, Champin, Fermaud heel- 
 graft, &c. 
 
 Ordinary Cleft-graft. 
 
 To make this graft the stock is bared to facilitate the 
 work, then it is cut at lin. or liin. underground* and the 
 part where the graft is to be placed slightly trimmed with 
 a pruning-knife. The cleft is then made with a chisel 
 manufactured for the purpose, or simply with a pruning- 
 knife if the stock is not too large. In the first case the 
 chisel is placed a little back from the edge of the stock, 
 and when the cleft is ready its exterior part is widened as 
 far as the chisel by cutting out of the cleft two small slips 
 of wood just large enough to make a cavity to allow the 
 graft to be tightly inserted. 
 
 Three eyes are left on the graft, and it is cut into the 
 shape of a knife-blade, the two bevellings starting from the 
 base of the lower eye. One should avoid as much as pos- 
 sible uncovering the pith on both sides, so that more solidity 
 may be preserved in the part which has been trimmed. 
 The graft is then firmly inserted into the cleft, slanting it 
 a little in such a way as to have a place where the bark of 
 both intersects each other, notwithstanding the difference in 
 their size. Then the chisel, which in the second part of the 
 operation has been used to keep the cleft open, is removed. 
 
 This system of grafting is more especially applicable to 
 stocks of a certain age, and consequently of a pretty large 
 diameter. As for those of a smaller size, where the wood 
 is not sufficiently elastic to hold the graft with security, 
 the cleft is only made on one side, with a pruning-knife. 
 
 Under the same conditions, the graft known as the graft 
 ■a la Pontoise can be used, the only difference being that, 
 instead of splitting the stock, it is hollowed with a pruning- 
 knife, or a gouge made especially for that purpose, making 
 a cavity to insert the graft. 
 
95 
 
 The "English Cleft-graft. 
 
 To mal^e this graft it is necessary to cut the stock slop- 
 ing at the level of the ground with a pruning-knife, or one 
 ,made for that purpqse, and split it again vertically at the 
 upper' third part of its .diameter. The graft is cut in the 
 same manner, and the loosened tongues mutually inserted 
 in the slips ; hut it is necessary to make the harks coincide 
 as well as possible, at least on one .side, as it may often 
 happen that the graft is of a smaller diameter than the 
 stock. The parts are afterwards kept in contact with a 
 tightly-fastened ligature. 
 
 The Chwnpin Graft 
 
 Is a modification of the English cleft-graft. It is made 
 in the following manner : The stock, cut perpendicularly to 
 its axis, is" split to about two-thirds of its diameter, and the 
 thickest part cut in an elongated bevel up to the higher 
 part of the slit. The same is done with the graft, which 
 is wedged and bound in the manner which we have already 
 described. 
 
 These two last processes have the benefit of being appli- 
 cable to young plauts of a diameter which does not much 
 exceed that of the cuttings used as grafts. Sprouts, or'in- 
 ternodes rooted by layering,. and the ordinary cuttings, can 
 be utilised, and, in certain cases, by these means excellent 
 results can be obtained. The work can also be done in- 
 doors during most, of the winter, but it. is necessary to 
 cover the grafted stocks with a. thick layer of sand as the 
 grafts are made, to preserve them up. to the time of plant- 
 ing them. 
 
 Greffe a Talon. 
 
 This sort of graft is done in the % ollowirig manner : The 
 stock is cut and spjit in the same way as in the common 
 cleft-grafting ;, the gr.aft, carefully selected of a slightly- 
 curved shape, and provided with a heel (talon), is edged off 
 
Chapter VI. 
 
 Fastening and Gluing. 
 
 ' Grafts made on stocks of small diameter must be strongly 
 fastened with ligatures which keep tight up to the time 
 when they are sufficiently joined together : cord and 
 Japanese raphia (raphia) are more specially used for this 
 purpose. The latter is cheaper and stronger, but it rots 
 easily in wet seasons. This can easily be overcome by 
 bathing it in sulphate of copper for a short time before 
 using it. 
 
 Wire has also been tried, but, having little or no elasti- 
 city, it has the great inconvenience of strangulating the 
 graft often before people think of l'emoving it. It can 
 only be used iu cutting-grafts, as they do not grow much 
 the first year. , „ 
 
 Wool is often used in grafts made above ground, but is 
 easily rotted by dampness when used in the ground. 
 
 The best preparation to enclose the graft and protect it, 
 so far, is prepared clay. A small quantity of it is applied 
 on the graft to protect it. from the contact of the air and 
 water. The clay must be entirely free from gravel, and 
 consist in a well-kneaded paste, which will neither run nor 
 crack when it is worked. 
 
 Chapter VII. 
 
 Necessary Care to be given to the Grafts and Earthing-up 
 ; ; (Buttage) . 
 
 The graft, once finished, must be earthed up or staked. 
 The earth, well prepared beforehand, is put around the 
 graft, forming a sort of a cone, and allowing the last eye 
 only to be above the ground. This work is done with a 
 tringv,e, or triangular hoe, and must be done carefully, so as 
 not to shake the graft. 
 
96 
 
 ia the middle and on both sides in the shape of a knife- 
 blade ; it is then inserted into the cleft in such a manner 
 as to make the barks correspond exactly and have the 
 talon placed in a good position to root. Mr. P. Fermaud 
 has modified this former process. The stock is cut' and 
 split, and a portion of the wood forward of the cleft is 
 removed with a gouge made especially for the purpose of 
 making a sharp bevel on one of the sides. At about the 
 lower third of the graft a tongue of wood is detached and 
 the- bark removed to the outer side, and it is then inserted 
 into the cleft and the full thickness is wedged into the 
 cavity. 
 
 The last two systems of grafting are intended to gua- 
 rantee a certain prolongation of life to American grafts, if 
 persons using them are desirous to grow shoots in a short 
 time in utilising the little vitality left in the French stocks 
 diseased by the phylloxera, but which are still partially 
 productive. 
 
 Graft by Approach, made on Ripened Wood. 
 
 This graft has not up to this date given many good 
 results, and it is seldom used, on account of the poor 
 vegetation which follows after the graft is deprived of its 
 root. The grafts made by herbaceous approach (approche 
 herbacee), though not much known, are recommended by 
 Mr. Corny, of Garons (Gard), who has been very well 
 satisfied with their use. They are made in the following 
 manner : The first year a French cutting and an American 
 one are planted side by side at a distance of about 4in. of 
 each other. The following year the eyes of the two- plants 
 (saplings) which are the nearest to the soil are covered with 
 earth. Strong shoots grow from the plants, and two of 
 these shoots, the most easy to be brought together, are 
 selected. Then the American shoot is wedged off, and a 
 small incision made with a grafting-knife on the French 
 shoot. The former shoot is inserted into the cleft made in 
 
97 
 
 the latter ; tliey are tied together, earthed up, and finally 
 the French shoot is pinched (pince) at the place where the 
 arms (bras) of the stock are to spread from. 
 
 The binding used by Mr. Corny is made of flat india- 
 rubber, fourteen-hundredths of an inch wide, and from 2in. 
 to 2£in. long. "When it is not made too tight it allows the 
 growth of the herbaceous part without strangling. A few 
 weeks after this work the graft is separated by cutting the 
 French plant under its point of contact with the American 
 stock. 
 
 Chapter V. 
 
 Tools and Grafting-machines — Tools for Cleft-grafting. 
 
 The tools used in cleft-grafting are, first, a saw with an 
 iron bow, or a common gardener's saw, to cut the stocks 
 of large size. Second, pruning-shears for smaller stocks. 
 Third, a steel chisel similar to a cold chisel ; or, in prefer- 
 ence, a chisel having the shape of the blade of a knife : 
 this has the advantage of opening the stock more at the 
 outside than at the centre. Fourth, a common hammer ; 
 or, in preference, a hammer with one side like a pickaxe : 
 this is used to drive the chisel into the wood, and to remove 
 the earth from the stock which is to be grafted. Fifth, a 
 pruning-knife, to trim the graft, make the cleft on the 
 young stocks, and prepare the grafts. 
 
 Special Tool used for the Pontoise Graft. 
 
 For this graft an angular-bladed gouge is often used to 
 open the sharp-edged groove in which the graft is wedged. 
 
 Grafting-instruments used for Cleft and Champin Grafting. 
 
 Many instruments may be used to make these two kinds 
 of grafts inrlnnrs. These may be seen at the agricultural 
 
 fair ; so I 
 7 
 
99 
 
 Removal of the French Roots and American Shoots. 
 
 It is necessary to examine the grafts about every twenty 
 days or every month during the summer, to destroy all 
 the roots which have grown on the graft, and remove the 
 suckers which start from the stock. The success of the 
 grafts often depends on the careful manner in which this 
 work is done ; in fact, when the roots of the graft are 
 allowed to grow, the vegetation of the graft-bearer decreases, 
 and the outside part, in the air, grows quicker than the part 
 in the ground. This abnormal growth causes the disjunc- 
 tion of the sides of the cleft, and often occasions a complete 
 separation of the graft. 
 
 A fact of this nature was observed this year in a vineyard 
 near Montpellier, on a large quantity of Herbemonts grafted 
 with Aramons, Aspirans, and Carignanes ; whereas, in an 
 entire row where the plants had been inspected with care, 
 no accident of this kind was noticed. Besides, the freeing 
 of the grafts is always injurious, as their roots are destroyed 
 in a very short time by the phylloxera. 
 
 When the suckers are neglected to be removed, the 
 chances are that they will increase to the prejudice of the 
 buds of the graft. After the month of August, when the 
 successful plants can be recognised, the cutting of the 
 suckers is stopped, to keep a reserve, if needed, of shoots 
 on which grafts can be made the following year. In case 
 these second shoots should not be plentiful, it is almost 
 always possible to make another graft on the lower part of 
 the stock. 
 
100 
 
 HERBACEOUS GRAFTING. 
 
 [Extract from the Annual Report of the Board of State (California) 
 Vitieultural Commission, 1887.] 
 
 Preliminary Instructions for Experimental Work, issued by 
 the Chief Executive Vitieultural Officer to the Inspectors 
 of the Vitieultural Commission, June, 1887. 
 
 Herbaceous grafting, as applied to the vine, consists in 
 grafting on the growing wood in midsummer. It is a 
 method which has been known for fifty years past in 
 central and eastern Europe, and has recently become 
 common in the region of Hungary. So valuable has the 
 method here described been found that during the past 
 year Von Hermann Goethe, Director of the Royal School 
 of Viticulture at Marburg, has issued a work largely 
 devoted to the subject. Other and more common systems 
 are treated by Professor Goethe, but preference is given 
 to the above-named method in that it has opened a new 
 and short way to the establishment of resistant vineyards, 
 as well as affording improved facilities for changing ob- 
 jectionable varieties to others of better quality. 
 
 The many novel methods of grafting the vine which 
 have been proposed of late years, and their common failure 
 in practice, have led me to believe that such announcements 
 as that of our esteemed contemporary, Hermann Goethe, 
 must undergo a certain practical test in the vineyards of this 
 State before being generally accepted as fully adapted to 
 our climate. 
 
 Before, therefore, proceeding to announce to our vine- 
 growers the value of herbaceous grafting, I have thought 
 proper to ask our inspectors and others working with us 
 to this year make a test of the method described in the 
 following — so 'far, at least, as the lateness of the season 
 may permit — and transmit to this Board the results of 
 their experiments, that another season may find us able to 
 iidopt or discard the system altogether. 
 
101 
 
 The many advantages obtained from its use, if successful, 
 will become evident to our vine-growers as they proceed — 
 advantages which, if the method prove successful in Cali- 
 fornia, our vineyardists cannot afford to be long without. 
 
 The period chosen for performing the operations is of 
 the greatest importance. The most propitious epoch found 
 in Hungary ends about the middle of July. As our vines 
 put forth earlier and are now further advanced, it may be 
 plainly seen that there is no time to lose. The information 
 here reproduced came to me so late that instructions could 
 not be issued sooner. In consideration of this fact, it is 
 to be hoped that the experiments will be performed imme- 
 diately, and that our experimenters may be particularly 
 careful to use only delicate and rapidly-growing shoots 
 for both scion and subject. (The term " subject '.' is 
 applied to the cane into which the scion is inserted.) 
 
 Experiments in this work have already been begun by 
 me with fair indications of success, but it is still too early 
 to judge their value. 
 
 To Operate. 
 
 Choose that period in the growth of the vine when the 
 shoots show daily advancement, selecting the most vigorous 
 canes for the purpose. The union should be made at a 
 point on the green shoot so near to the growing end as to 
 exhibit no white pith when cut. In fact, that part of the 
 cane in which the pith is scarcely distinguishable from the 
 wood and bark is the surest to unite with the scion. It 
 must, however, be strong enough when wound to maintain 
 the scion well in position. 
 
 The last of June has been generally selected for the 
 work, although some work performed the 1st of July has 
 shown a loss of only 2 per cent. When late spring frosts 
 prevail a later period is chosen, as the rapid growth then 
 comes later. This graft cannot be made to succeed on 
 canes attaining a woody appearance, but both scion and 
 subject must be elastic and yet not too soft. 
 
103 
 
 The bud on the scion must be examined and found good, 
 and in selecting the scion it is generally safe to choose that 
 bud at the base of the first well-opened leaf found on the 
 growing cane. Lower and more woody scions will not 
 answer. Laterals which show slow growth will not answer 
 for the subject, but may be selected if still growing 
 vigorously. The original canes proceeding djrect from old 
 spurs are most commonly selected for the subjects, par- 
 ticularly those which show a bright sappy appearance. 
 
 Warm, growing weather favours much herbaceous graft- 
 ing. A cold wind is harmful in checking growth, likewise 
 a dry, hot wind,- and it is well, in hot weather, to suspend 
 operations during a few hours in the middle of the day. 
 
 Do not graft vines showing a sickly appearance. 
 
 In the preparation of the scion be careful to preserve 
 the scions fresh. If necessary to keep them some time, 
 place them in water, thoroughly shaking off the water at 
 time of grafting. Let the cut of the lower end of the 
 scion be made through the bud, that the point of the 
 wedge may possess the enlargement necessary to fit the 
 base of the cut in the subject. The knife in entering the 
 subject should split it just through the middle and descend 
 half way through the centre of the enlarged part. Let 
 the size of the scion be near that of the subject, never 
 larger. The leaf joining the bud of the scion should be 
 cut off. 
 
 In inserting the scion see that the bark of the two parts 
 comes smoothly together at the point, and that the tender 
 bark is not broken or slipped. A safe precaution is to 
 spread apart the subject when pushing home the scion. 
 
 To tie the graft, use a cptton string. Begin to wiud 
 at the top, and, by drawing it close and tight at the bottom 
 near the bnd, you will prevent the scions being forced from 
 place. 
 
 This done, six or eight days will determine the measure 
 of your success. By this time the scion-bud should have 
 begun to grow, following which all suckers and laterals 
 
103 
 
 drawing from the cane on which the graft is placed should 
 he carefully removed, and this latter operation repeated as 
 often as may be required to force all growth to the new 
 part. 
 
 The success of the graft is early indicated by the falling- 
 off of the leaf-stem which was allowed to remain on the 
 scion. As the union grows the string must be loosened. 
 The short time necessary to determine the success of this 
 method gives ample opportunity to repeat the operation 
 several times during the season, if success does not attend 
 the first efforts. 
 
 Grafts made on growing canes of Riparia vines two years 
 old have shown good results, though older vines are equally 
 good. 
 
 Many other advantages growing out of this method will 
 be explained later if we can determine the success promised 
 by Professor Goethe. In the meantime we call upon you 
 to experiment carefully, and forward your results as early 
 
 as possible. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 John H. Wheeler, 
 Chief Executive Viticultural Officer. 
 
104- 
 
 OIDIUM (TUCKERI)* AND THE USE OE 
 SULPHUR. 
 
 (Extract from Appendix 1 to the Annual Eeport of the Chief Executive 
 Viticultural Officer (California) for the Year 1887.] 
 
 The Oidium (tuckeri) is a vegetable parasite of American 
 origin. It attacks all growing portions of the vine, and 
 imparts to the leaves a chapped appearance, and gives them 
 a whitish or grey colour. The vine, when badly affected, 
 has a blighted and sickly appearance ; the young leaves 
 and tender parts become dried and roll up, attacked, the 
 herbaceous parts blacken, cease to grow, and end by 
 withering and drying up. This latter extreme is rarely 
 attained in California. The growing berries are attacked 
 as readily as other parts, giving the whole a languishing 
 and unhealthy aspect. The young branches also present 
 blotches of a powdered nature, which ultimately cover the 
 greater part of the surface exposed to the sun, and, where 
 badly affected, also taking on a whitish, powdered, and, 
 eventually chapped appearance, which causes them to crack 
 open and cease to grow. Thus it will be seen that the 
 oidium, unlike other fungus, affects the crop directly, as 
 well as indirectly, through damage to the foliage. The 
 parasite first appears abundant in June, though frequently 
 commencing its attack in May, at or after the time of 
 flowering. 
 
 The conditions favouring the oidium are moisture and 
 warmth, the latter playing the most important part. The 
 moisture here meant is not the extremely humid condition 
 of the atmosphere which appears with or immediately 
 
 * Frequently and improperly confused with mildiou, which it is not. 
 The true mildiou is the dreaded Peronospora viticola, a parasite far more 
 formidable than the disease we commonly treat with sulphur, and one 
 which does not succumb to this or other simple remedies. It might be, 
 and is sometimes, properly termed " powdery mildew," distinguished thus 
 from downy mildew, which is Peronospora viticola. 
 
 The misnomer of the parasite common to California frequently leads 
 to a confusion of remedies — sulphate of copper and slacked lime is the 
 remedy for mildiou— but one not necessary for our oidium. 
 
105 
 
 follows a rain or heavy fog, a condition often incorrectly 
 named as favourable to oidium, but merely the moisture 
 to be found in a sea-breeze after it has travelled ten, 
 twenty, or even thirty miles inland. An atmosphere which 
 produces a light dew at night is sufficiently moist to favour 
 to the utmost the propagation of oidium. Quite different 
 in this respect is the peronospora and anthracnose, which 
 require the deposition of heavy rain, fog, or excessive 
 moisture to produce their growth. For this reason, I be- 
 lieve, California has been comparatively free from the 
 true mildiou, a disease which of late years, in France, 
 where summer rains are frequent, has threatened the 
 vineyards to as great an extent as has the dreaded 
 phylloxera. 
 
 Our principal vegetable parasite thus far has been the 
 •oidium, one especially favoured by our dry, warm climate, 
 and one easily destroyed by the timely application of 
 sulphur. 
 
 As before remarked, excessive moisture is unfavourable 
 to the propagation of oidium, and a good shower will do 
 much to remove and destroy the germs. 
 
 As to temperature, the disease begins its development 
 where the average of day and night runs up to 53° Fahr. ; 
 it spreads rapidly at 70°, and is checked in its growth 
 where the thermometer indicates near 100°. Above 100° 
 its damage is rapidly diminished, and at 112° — a tem- 
 perature quite common throughout the interior vineyard 
 districts of California — the germs lose their vitality, and 
 the effects of the disease entirely cease. 
 
 To be sure, where vines make a dense growth, and are 
 trained high above the ground, the germs may be so 
 sheltered in shady spots as to escape the effects of the 
 heat. Where, on the contrary, the vines are trained along 
 or close to the ground, and receive the reverberated in 
 addition to the direct heat of the sun — the manner in 
 which vines should be trained — then the high tempera- 
 ture above named accomplishes a complete extermination 
 
106 
 
 of the parasite, a result which has. often been noted in 
 Algiers, where such temperatures are frequent throughout 
 the early-growing period of the vine. 
 
 Let it he borne in mind generally that the propagation 
 of the o'idium and other vegetable parasites of the vine are 
 greatly favoured by trellises and high training. Short- 
 pruned vines and those trained close to the ground are 
 most exempt from fungoid diseases. 
 
 A hot north wind will sweep the o'idium from a vineyard 
 well exposed to its effect. This forms one of nature's most 
 common remedies in California, and should be a consolation 
 to those who may otherwise lose by it in the grain-field. 
 
 Some varieties of vines are found more susceptible to 
 the attack of oidium than others, other conditions being 
 similar. 
 
 This fact should influence the vineyardist as to the fre- 
 quency of applying the remedy and the amount of sulphur 
 employed. 
 
 Varieties particularly subject to the effects of oidium 
 are — the Polle Blanche, Crabb's Black Burgundy, Muscat, 
 Chasselas, Zinfandel, Teinturier Gamay, Cabernet Sau- 
 vignon, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Carignane, Terret, and 
 Cinsaut. Among those little susceptible are the Gren- 
 ache, all of the true Pinots, the Alicante Bouschet, Petit 
 Bouschet, Colombar, Sauvignon Blanc, and the- Aramon. 
 The American grapes Vitis labrusca, V. riparia, and V. 
 rupestris are but little affected by oidium. 
 
 Remedies. — Many substances have been applied, princi- 
 pally in the form of powders. Lime has been extensively 
 employed, and it has been found that any dust effects 
 beneficial results on the diseased plant. None have proved 
 so efficacious, however, as sulphur-dust, and on this we can 
 rest our perfect reliance, for, if properly applied, it affects 
 all that may be desired in the way of a cure, and is com- 
 paratively inexpensive. The oidium is a disease quite 
 easy to treat, because its spores and growth are confined 
 to the exterior and exposed portion of the plant, which is 
 
107 
 
 not the case with the Peronospora viticola and some 
 other vegetable parasites. 
 
 The Application of Sulphur as a Remedy. — There have 
 been many conflicting and erroneous statements made 
 concerning this remedy, its application and effects, as 
 applied in California. Imperfect and hasty generalisa- 
 tions, drawn from limited local experiences, have not un- 
 frequently.been published, and results both expensive and 
 wasteful have often followed. To correct the wrong im- 
 pressions thus formed, and save further dispute, it seems 
 necessary to treat the subject in a somewhat technical 
 manner, the truth on some points of which, it seems to 
 me, precludes the possibility of further dispute as to kinds 
 which should be employed, the difference in the effect of 
 various brands, imported or domestic, and the manner and 
 time best for making the treatment. 
 
 How and when to apply Sulphur. — For very small vine- 
 yards, the dredger, an instrument much resembling a large 
 pepper-box, answers well enough, especially while the vines 
 are young. For more advanced vineyards and larger areas, 
 the bellows should be used, holding from 31b. to 51b. of 
 sulphur. These latter are furnished by local manufac- 
 turers, and effect a considerable saving of time, labour, and 
 material over the dredger. By the use of the bellows, too, 
 the sulphur can be more evenly distributed. A simple 
 open nozzle is the best ; any perforated cover for this 
 latter is apt to get clogged, and the bell-shape frequently 
 given to it does not spread or expand the sulphur-jet-— a 
 purpose for which it is designed, but fails to accomplish. 
 A bent nozzle is more of an encumbrance than an advan- 
 tage. The simplest, strongest bellows, of good size, will 
 prove cheapest and best in the enck With this tool a 
 workman will sulphur from five to eight thousand vines 
 p er d a y — v i nes in an advanced state of vegetation. He 
 may apply as many pounds of sulphur per day with other 
 instruments, but it cannot thus be so evenly distributed 
 nor cover the same. area. 
 
108 
 
 The powdered sulphur should be applied so as to lodge 
 as much as possible on and near the growing parts of the 
 vine. This secures a dense sulphur-vapour in direct con- 
 tact with the diseased organs. Sulphur on the old stump, 
 or even on the surface of the ground, will destroy the 
 o'i'dium, but a larger. quantity would be required. 
 
 Sulphur falling on the ground is by no means lost, but 
 a lesser quantity will answer if lodged on the leaves and 
 branches. It has been stated that sulphur falling to the 
 •earth is lost by its effect being immediately neutralised. 
 The sulphurous acid formed is neutralised, but the vapour 
 •of sulphur — the active disinfectant — is not neutralised; 
 nor is the effect of the sulphur lost, except as it be 
 covered up and hid from the sun and air. 
 
 The simplest rule as to the time for applying sulphur 
 is : " Treat the vineyard whenever the disease makes its 
 appearance." But if we desire to apprehend even its 
 introduction, which is the general custom in California, 
 the first application should be made at or about the time 
 of flowering, as at this period the disease is apt to attack 
 the delicate organs of fructification and render the vine 
 infertile. Altogether the most favourable results have 
 been obtained by sulphuring at the time of blossoming. 
 This, too, is one of the methods of combating coulure, a 
 trouble which will be treated later on. Young vines do 
 not require so frequent sulphuring, nor so great a quantity, 
 as vines in full bearing. The former should be sulphured 
 when the shoots attain the length of a few inches; and 
 again later on, if the oidium makes its appearance. 
 Bearing vines should, in addition to the treatment at blos- 
 soming, receive a second application from the first to the 
 middle of June ; and again later on, if the disease makes 
 its appearance. 
 
 Wine-grapes should never be sulphured after the berries 
 attain their full size, as the sulphur reaching the wine-vat 
 is converted during fermentation into sulphuretted hydro- 
 gen — the odour of rotten eggs — to the rain of the pro- 
 
109 
 
 duct. Table- or raisin-grapes may be sulphured later if 
 desired. 
 
 The quantity used at each application may vary with 
 the number of vines per acre, and should be governed 
 somewhat by the susceptibility of the variety as before 
 explained. Less is needed for the first than for subse- 
 quent applications, when the vines attain full proportions. 
 The quantity commonly used in California for old vines 
 subject to oi'dium is about 81b. per acre for the first 
 treatment and from 121b. to 201b. at the second applica- 
 tion. 
 
 The use of this remedy in conformance with the above 
 instructions will effect a great saving over conventional 
 methods pertaining at present in California. Not un- 
 frequently our vineyardists sulphur in weather positively 
 prohibitory to the disease. Varieties but little liable to 
 oi'dium, situated, perhaps, in the hottest and driest interior 
 localities, and trained low to escape it, often receive a dose 
 which goes only to fertilise the soil and stimulate the 
 growth of the vine. 
 
 This latter function is one which, however, must not be 
 overlooked. The general aspect of the vine is always im- 
 proved and vegetation greatly stimulated by the free use of 
 sulphur. A small percentage only of the sulphur applied 
 vapourises ; the balance works into the soil, becomes slowly 
 oxidized, and finally unites to form sulphates of the alka- 
 lies and alkaline earths, which are in substance the essen- 
 tial ingredients of some of the best fertilisers. Still, it is 
 well to know whether the sulphur is applied for the cure 
 of oi'dium and as a fertiliser or as a fertiliser only. 
 
 The most favourable hours for applying sulphur are 
 from 8 or 9 o'clock in the morning to the middle of the 
 afternoon, preferably from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m. The sul- 
 phur which comes into contact with dew or other water 
 is in nowise altered thereby, but ceases to give off its 
 vapour only until the water evaporates, and thereby ex- 
 poses its surface to the atmosphere. A rain following the 
 
110 
 
 application of sulphur does not alter this element; but 
 results in damage only in removing the particles mechani- 
 cally from the foliage of the vine to other places more 
 remote from the seat of disease. 
 
 Any wind other than very gentle will do much to shake 
 off and remove the sulphur from the leaves. A windy 
 day should therefore he avoided. In fact, a hot still mid- 
 day is the best in all respects, as amply proven by the 
 strong odour of sulphur prevailing at the time of such an 
 application. 
 
 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
 
 [Extracts from the Report of the Inspector of Vineyards for 1886. 
 Presented to both Houses of Parliament, by command of His Excel- 
 lency the Governor, in 1887.] 
 
 Operations in the Mowbray Area. 
 
 The difficulty of applying the insecticide to the vineyards 
 in this locality was mainly due to the delay in the arrival 
 of the chemical. 
 
 It being found that a part of Mr. S. Kotze's vineyard 
 could be submerged from the water of the Liesbeek River, 
 the Government authorised the throwing of a dam to put 
 to the test the submersion system. The work, superin- 
 tended by Mr. McLellan, C.E., of the Public Works 
 Department, was made partly by convicts, partly by free 
 labour (owing to the great destitution prevalent at the 
 time among the unemployed), and a surface of some nine 
 acres, divided into two dams, was kept under water for a 
 period of sixty days ; the ground which had been thrown 
 up for enbankments had previously been treated with 
 bisulphide. 
 
 That period of sixty days was not decided upon at 
 random. Owing to the numerous fatty tubercles which 
 cover its body, the phylloxera is not easily wetted ; it can 
 
Ill 
 
 be immersed in a liquid without being in direct contact 
 with it, being enveloped in air. Dr. Maxime Cornu has 
 also shown that the new layer which separates the old 
 bark from the new (the very dry exterior part of the new 
 suber) is damped with very great difficulty only ; and a 
 long period of submersion is therefore required to change 
 the conditions in which this suberose layer remains dry, 
 and meanwhile affords means of subsistence to the insect. 
 
 'Professor Balbiani has also shown, in his admirable re- 
 searches on the structure and vitality of the egg of the 
 phylloxera, that when immersed in water at the time the 
 embryo had only begun to appear, or was but little de- 
 veloped, they accomplished their evolution until they were 
 hatched, and that if the embryo was already well developed 
 the young often died in the egg, but only after a long 
 stay under the water. 
 
 A submersion of forty days has been found sufficient 
 in Europe, but it has to be repeated every two years, and 
 Balbiani ascribes that necessity to the escape of a few 
 eggs. 
 
 The endeavour of the Phylloxera Commission has been 
 to leave as little as possible to chance; and after a submer- 
 sion of sixty days from the 1st of September — that is to 
 say, at about the time of renewal of^ activity in the part of 
 the insect — I have vainly sought for a phylloxera on the 
 roots of the few vines which have survived that long stay 
 under water. 
 
 The importance of this experiment at the Cape is very 
 great. Many farmers would be able, were the contagion 
 to spread, to submerge parts of their vineyards at a com- 
 paratively small expense, now that a trial has been made 
 which, up to date, has given satisfactory results. 
 
 The remainder of the infected grounds were treated twice 
 or three times with doses varying according to the greater 
 or lesser porosity of the soil, and, as far as it is possible to 
 judge, so efficaciously as to lead to a modification of the 
 application of the bisulphide. 
 
112 
 
 Discoveries of New Centres (Moddergat). 
 
 • Supervision of the manual labour of some hundred men 
 working simultaneously at Mowbray and Moddergat had 
 prevented me from starting on my journey of inspection of 
 the Western Province vineyards, but on the 4th of Decem- 
 ber I located several highly-developed phylloxerized centres 
 on two farms adjoining Annandale (Green Vlei and Groen 
 Rivier) . The latter place is practically the same as " Wol- 
 venvlei," the site in Moddergat where the phylloxera ori- 
 ginated, and the occupier of which was in the habit of 
 carrying his grapes to be pressed at " Groen Rivier." A 
 mile further on we found a newly developed centre on Mr. 
 J. Bredell's farm " Rust en Vreede." 
 
 Large doses of bisulphide were immediately applied to 
 those centres, and a systematic treatment — one out of three 
 — given to the whole of the Vlei ground (115,000 vines = 
 154 morgen) ; the remainder of the vineyard at Groen 
 Rivier is planted on gravelly hills. On neither side of the 
 Vlei ground did we trace the insect ; but a treatment of 
 cultivation — i.e., a small-dose injection, sufficient to kill 
 the insect, but not the vine — will be given as soon as the 
 weather allows it. 
 
 On the 27th of December I found on Mr. H. J. Malan's, 
 " Nooitgedacht," a very small centre, at the extreme end 
 of his son's vineyard. Three thousand vines were im- 
 mediately destroyed, and there also a treatment of cultiva- 
 tion will be given to a large radius. 
 
 It is very difficult in this case to account for the dis- 
 semination of the insect. That it is due to the exodus of 
 the winged female seems to me highly improbable, because 
 vineyards intervening between that farm and Groen Rivier 
 have up to date not shown any sign of infection. One of 
 Mr. Malan's sons is a part-occupier of the Groen Rivier,. 
 and was in the habit of helping his brother with his la- 
 bourers during the pressing season. Mr. Malan, however, 
 does not remember having borrowed or lent his grape- 
 
113 
 
 baskets ; and it is very difficult to obtain reliable informa- 
 tion on such petty details. 
 
 Those three farms were immediately placed under 
 quarantine, and the owners allowed to remove their vege- 
 tables, fruit, or garden-produce only after a storage of 
 twelve clays in the lofts of kindred places. 
 
 There for the first time I was enabled to form an opin- 
 ion on the enormously rapid power of destruction of the 
 phylloxera at the Cape. In January, 1886, I had visited 
 the farms Groen Vlei and Groen Rivier and saw nothing 
 suspicious ; eleven months afterwards hundreds of vines 
 were already dead, and the Vlei vineyard altogether con- 
 taminated. 
 
 Further inspection round the infected area — i.e., the 
 whole field-cornetcies of Moddergat, Eerst River, and part 
 of Stellenhosch — did not lead to any other discovery. 
 
 Precautionaky Mjgasub.es during Operations. 
 
 Precautions have been taken for preventing the possi- 
 bility of dissemination of the insect by the labourers em- 
 ployed on the works. The men have to bring a change of 
 clothes, and cannot leave the field without having their 
 feet and legs disinfected. This, however, is practically 
 useless, and done only to satisfy public opinion, because 
 the vapours of the bisulphide have acted as a disinfectant 
 during the day's work ; and I am absolutely certain that 
 the men have not been instrumental in carrying with them 
 the insect from the field under treatment. 
 
 Treatments of Cultivation. 
 The large doses of insecticide we have used were bound 
 to secure success. We had, in fact, to destroy both vines 
 and insect. Nevertheless, in several cases, some of our 
 vines have survived a dosage of 300 grammes ; but treat- 
 ment of cultivation — i.e., a treatment which will destroy the 
 insect and not injure the vine — is a difficult undertaking; 
 very successful as far as the destruction of the insect is 
 8 
 
114 
 
 concerned, ft is not always so with the vines, which it 
 injures more or less temporarily, mainly in soils which are 
 without depth and gravelly. 
 
 Two such treatments have been tried. The first at 
 Messrs. Mostert's, where 150 vines out of 9,500 have been 
 killed ; those vines which have suffered were situate on 
 the upper side of the depression, where the ground is stony 
 and not deep. The dose was also a larger one than usual, 
 owing to the neighbourhood of the phylloxerized vines. 
 The second was on Mr. Guthrie's, Rapenberg, where some 
 vine-cuttings coming from Mr. S. Kotze had been planted, 
 thus necessitating some precautionary measures. The 
 treatment of that vineyard, situated on an extremely steep 
 slope of most compact argillaceous soil, has been highly 
 successful, no vine having been injured. 
 
 These experiments have not however been carried out on 
 a siifficieutly large scale to decide on the suitability of the 
 use of bisulphide at the Cape in all kinds of soil ; and I 
 deem that in gravelly, shallow soils, like that of many 
 places at Moddergat, there will always be a comparatively 
 large percentage of vines injured by the insecticide ; but 
 the extensive " treatments of cultivation " which are soon 
 to be given will afford sufficient data upon which a reliable 
 opinion may be baaed. 
 
 The Development op the Phylloxeua at the Cai>e. 
 Subterranean Form. 
 
 The necessity of ascertaining the time at which the exodus 
 of the female insect takes place, and also if there was or 
 was not a season of hybernation, was very great, since on 
 those observations depended the greater or lesser efficacy 
 of the measures taken against the spread of phylloxera. 
 
 For that purpose several vines were planted in large 
 boxes, fixed so as to allow of ready access to the roots, and 
 capped with large glass cases. I operated mainly on nine 
 vines :->- 
 
115 
 
 1 to 6 — Six Cape varieties of Vitis vinifera. 
 
 7 to 8 — Two American vines, Vitis aestivalis. 
 
 9 — One wild vine, Cessus capensis. 
 
 The object in view was to ascertain — first, whether the 
 multiplication or evolution of the insect was checked either 
 by cold or by extreme heat ; and, second, at what time of the 
 year the winged female came out of the ground. 
 
 Dr. Cornu has established with certainty that in France 
 a temperature of 10° C. (or 49° Fahr.) causes the phylloxera 
 to hibernate : that is to say, under the climatic influence 
 the gravid female dies, and the young — the insect before it 
 has shed its first skin — becomes motionless, shrivels up, 
 and may be said to be dormant. No harm is done to the 
 vine at that period — middle of October to middle of 
 November ; as soon, however, as the temperature rises 
 above 49° Fahr. a general awakening takes place, and the 
 insect begins its course of destruction. This period of re- 
 newal of activity may be said to begin in May in the south 
 of France, and towards the end of it in the western parts. 
 In a letter which I had the honour to receive from him, 
 Mons. Cornu mentions having also noticed a similar result 
 produced by an excessive drought and heat ; his observa- 
 tions have been ulteriorly confirmed by those of Balbiani. 
 
 It might have been hoped that the extreme heat and 
 dryness of the climate from November to April would have 
 here acted as the low temperature 10° C. does in France. 
 Unfortunately there is no ground for such a hope. The 
 phylloxera does not sestivate, and remains extremely active 
 from September to the middle of April, as shown by the 
 observations — up to date — made not only in my conserva- 
 tory, where, in spite of all precautions, the heat is naturally 
 greater, varying from 66° to 106° Fahr., but also in the 
 fields. 
 
 In extremely compact argillaceous soil, the surface of 
 which is baked, I have sometimes met with insects some- 
 what sluggish in comparison to those at a greater depth, 
 
116 
 
 but that was immediately under the surface only, and they 
 were not dormant. 
 
 I had occasion to examine the roots of one of the vines 
 in the conservatory with a heat of 87° Fahr., and the in- 
 sects, both near the surface and also at a depth of 24in., 
 were equally active ; they were, however, more numerous 
 at that depth, and had sought evidently a damper surround- 
 ing. 
 
 The effect of the rainy season (winter?) has been, how- 
 ever, very peculiar, and produced a result nearly akin to 
 that of the hibernation in France. After the cold and 
 rainy weather experienced in May last year, I was greatly 
 surprised to find the insect in a semi-comatose state; the 
 body pf the gravid female, no longer so spheric or pyriform 
 as usual, was not distended with eggs in the majority of 
 cases ; the young were not active, and the insect in its dif- 
 ferent stages had assumed a leaden hue, was motionless, 
 hut not dead. Whenever exposed tG a little warmth both 
 female and young revived rapidly ; a few hours' exposure 
 to artificial heat was sufficient, and a female even gave me 
 three eggs the following day. Towards the end of August 
 the phylloxera in the conservatory had awakened from their 
 stupor, and on the 10th of September the roots of the vines 
 were teeming with phylloxera-life. 
 
 If we take into consideration the small extent of cold 
 weather experienced on the coast districts we may con- 
 clude that this short period of rest is nothing when com- 
 pared wiyi the immense advantage the insect derives from 
 the favourable circumstance of a hot and dry climate, 
 livery observer in France had to arrive at a similar con- 
 clusion. 
 
 Dr. Cornu found that with the temperature varying be- 
 tween 86° and 95° Fahr. (30° to 35° C.) the young hiber- 
 nant had laid its first egg in twelve days. This gives three 
 days for each shedding of skin. This result corroborates 
 the observations of the late Mons. Lichtenstein. This 
 observer fouud that a constant temperature of about 76° 
 
117 
 
 Fahr. (25° C.) would allow the development of the winged 
 form in eighty to ninety' days. I have heen able to obtain 
 the same result here, as will be seen hereafter. 
 
 From the foregoing remarks it will be seen that the dan- 
 ger of dissemination of the insect from May to September, 
 while I was unable to do anything against it for want of a 
 disinfecting agent, has been greatly lessened, and also that 
 the application of bisulphide of carbon shpuld be made early 
 in September. 
 
 Aerial Form. 
 
 The spreading of the phylloxera takes place mostly in 
 the ground. It has also been found walking on the soil, 
 but the contamination at great distances is due mainly to 
 the winged form. 
 
 For a long time the winged form was considered as very 
 rare ; but the observations of Dr. Cornu have shown that 
 it was purely due to the fact that it was looked for where 
 it does not easily develop, and that the nymphs which ulti- 
 mately become winged females are not to be found gene- 
 rally on the roots, but on the swellings of the rootlets. 
 Those rootlets being of course more numerous on healthy 
 vines, it follows that in a contaminated vineyard the winged 
 females will be produced in large numbers during the first 
 year of infection. But the rootlets wither generally 
 towards the end of summer, and the nymph, owing to the 
 difficulty of getting more nodosities (as when attacked the 
 rootlet soon rots, and the death is accelerated by the 
 number of phylloxera which derive their sustenance from 
 it), gets probably at that time near the surface of the soil, 
 and there, after a last shedding of skin, emerges as a 
 
 winged form. 
 
 On the ground of these observations the Commission was 
 led to expect to get the winged form late in the year, 
 although numerous nymphs had been met with. everywhere. 
 Two vines six months old, well stocked with insects, were 
 deposited in the laboratory. They came from Mr. Kotze s 
 
118 
 
 vineyard at Mowbray, and were planted in the original 
 compact argillaceous soil. On the 23rd April only I ob- 
 tained the first winged insect ; the exodus continued until 
 the 5th May, and then ceased, a copious watering of the 
 plants after the first exodus having seemingly increased it. 
 That exodus coincided with the appearance in the- open air 
 of numerous other winged forms of Aphidce. I should here 
 state that the insects flying against the panes of glass which 
 cover the boxes, and on which the vapour from the ground 
 condenses, are glued against them and easily detected. 
 
 At the time I placed those two vines in the conservatory 
 [February] there were several nymphs on the rootlets. 
 Supposing that those nymphs became the winged females 
 which I had collected later on, they have required fifty-six 
 days to assume the winged form. 
 
 On the 6th of December I brought from Moddergat a 
 large quantity of insects, with which I stocked three Cape 
 vines,' one wild' vine, two American Vitis cestivalis, and 
 placed also a small amount of them, among which I could 
 see no nymph, at the foot of the very vine from which the 
 exodus had taken place six mOnths previously. On the 
 10th of January I got the first winged form from that same 
 vine, which up to date has given me twenty-four; vine 
 No. 2, stocked in December, has given me eight. Two 
 young vines planted this year have given me nothing as yet ; 
 neither have the two American vines, nor has the insect 
 taken to the wild species — Cissus capensis. I do not 
 believe that this is the final exodus, which I expect in May 
 or June,- when the rainy season sets in. No other Aphidar 
 have yet appeared abroad. 
 
 The results of those observations are thus somewhat dif- 
 ferent from those observed in France. The young vine 
 No. 1,* which had given me last year fourteen winged 
 females only, has gtv.en me twenty-four this year, and it is 
 in the last stage of decay. The two young vines 3 and 4 
 
 * Vine No, 2, being nearly dead, was removed from the boxes in Sep- 
 tember, three months after the exodus. : 
 
119 
 
 (which do not thrive very well) have as yet given me none. 
 It might be deduced from this that here the winged form 
 is not produced in greater number during the first year of 
 infection. 
 
 Vine No. 2, stocked with insects from Moddergat, has, 
 however, yielded eight winged females from the 13th 'of 
 January — i.e., thirty-five days after it had been stocked ; 
 and I conclude that the measures taken to destroy the 
 centres from which those insects came have been instru- 
 mental in checking the first exodus, and in preserving the 
 adjacent vineyards from contamination at any distance. 
 
 The life-history of the phylloxera presents, however, 
 some difficulties which are not easily accounted for, and 
 the theories of the late Mons. Lichtenstein, which went far 
 towards their solution, have not been accepted by every 
 entomologist. It is therefore with great satisfaction that 
 I record here a similar result to that obtained by that dis- 
 tinguished aphidographist — viz., the development of the 
 winged form in about ninety days, with a nearly constant 
 temperature of 72° Fahr. 
 
 I hasten, however, to explain that the observations I 
 have been able to make have been too few to decide deci- 
 sively the points still obscure which I have been treating, 
 of. They must be treated again and again, under different 
 climatic circumstances. They have only been made in one 
 locality, and atmospheric influence is well known to act in 
 many different ways on Aphidce. Incomplete as they are, 
 they unfortunately lead to a most calamitous conclusion — 
 viz., that the spread of the phylloxera at the Cape, if left 
 unchecked, is more rapid than in any other country where 
 the insect has established its footing. 
 
 Enemies of the Vine. 
 It may be safely asserted that few countries are more 
 suited for the growth of the vine than the Cape j in fact, 
 the primitive mode of cultivation adopted here is a mani- 
 fest proof of it. 
 
120 
 
 Beyond the O'idium (tuekeri), so very prevalent in those 
 districts subject to the sea-breeze, but necessitating a very 
 much less expenditure in repeated applications of sulphur 
 in the Paarl, Drakenstein, &c., no other signs of fungoid 
 presence have been met with, but here and: there a few 
 traces of what is believed to be anthracnose, Phoma viticola, 
 also known under the name of black rot. The redoubtable 
 fungus, Peronospora viticola, or <r mildew," has not been 
 met with.* 
 
 Among insects, an Otiorrhynchide is often very mis- 
 chievous. Plentiful in the Constantia District, Phlyctinus 
 callosus, Bohem., called here Calandra, f does really great 
 damage. Mr. Albrecht, of Sillery, Constantia, told me 
 that he spent more than £100 in having the insect col- 
 lected in his vineyard last year. 
 
 I have been able to see proof positive of the depreda- 
 tion by the Phlyctinus callosus, in January last year, when 
 visiting Hottentot's Holland. A vineyard of some 37,000 
 vines, belonging to Mr. Theunissen, was in the most de- 
 plorable state, and all the leaves were perforated and half- 
 dessicated, and the grapes rachitic and very scarce. The 
 Calandra does not seem to have reached further than Mod- 
 dergat and Eerste River, and is> I am told, unknown at the 
 Paarl. Its life-history is not known, and I am going to 
 try to rear it. Early digging is said to be beneficial, which 
 would go to prove that the grub does not live deep in the 
 soil. It is an example of an indigenous insect having 
 taken a non-indigenous food-plant, but it is, notwithstand- 
 ing, found plentifully on a native shrub. 
 
 Another beetle, the " blue beesje," Haltica indigacea 
 Illig., is said to be also injurious to the vine, but I cannot 
 corroborate that assertion. I found it plentifully in some 
 
 * This fungus is stated to have done, more harm this year to the vine- 
 crop in France that the phylloxera. It is also an American exportation. 
 , t The use of that name should he deprecated. The insect known all 
 the world over hy the name of Calandra is the Calandra granaria Lin., 
 which, with its congenor Calandra vrystz, proves so destructive to corn 
 and rice, and is besides plentiful at the Cape. 
 
131 
 
 badly-kept vineyards, but only where its food-plant was 
 also plentiful. 
 
 ' The two large crickets, Cyrtacanthacris (Acridium) ruji- 
 eomis Fab. and cranacea Stell., are sometimes extremely 
 numerous in the vines from February to April ; they do 
 not seem to do great injury, but when visiting last year 
 Mr. Ross's vineyard in Table Valley, where they were ex- 
 tremely numerous, traces ,pf their presence in great num- 
 bers were plainly visible. 
 
 The Australian bug, Icerya purehasij which it was feared 
 at the time would prove as obnoxious to the vine as it did 
 to orange-trees and certain Australian Acacise, fortunately 
 does not seem to have taken readily to the vine as a fruit- 
 plant. 
 
 A small coccid, Dactytopsies vitis Nied. (perhaps D. 
 adonidum), is occasionally found on trellis vines, and is, 
 so far as I know, restricted to the neighbourhood of Cape 
 Town. 
 
 From Graaff-Reinet I have received several specimens of 
 what I take to be Aphis vitis Scop., but, having received 
 some apterous examples only, I am unable to deeide its 
 identity. I am afraid that this insect, if it is the true 
 Aphis vitis, would point to the introduction at no long 
 date of cuttings of vine from Europe. 
 
 Lastly, I have met with a very singular subterranean 
 coccid, both afc Moddergat and at the Paarl, attended upon 
 in one case by a small ant (Acantholepis capensis) . The 
 vines on the. roots of which they fed. were evidently in an 
 indifferent state of health. May this coccid not prove 
 another formidable enemy ? 
 
 The red spider (Tebranychus telarius L.) has also been 
 found in very large numbers in some vineyards ; although 
 I have not happened to meet with it, I would strongly urge 
 upon the Cape viticulturists the necessity of discontinuing 
 the plantation of the Phy sails pubescens L., or Cape goose- 
 berry, to which this mite is so partial, in the proximity or 
 the border of their vineyards., 
 
m 
 
 American Vines. 
 
 There is still so much controversy on the efficacy of the 
 American vines as a resource against the ravages occasioned 
 by the phylloxera that it is almost impossible to arrive at 
 a safe conclusion. Their use as direct producers is, how- 
 ever, admitted to have been a failure, and it is only as 
 porte-greffes, or grafting-stock, that they are now in use. 
 Numberless have been the hybrids of sundry American 
 vines which have been preconised, nay to which prizes have 
 been awarded, and which have now, after utter failure, fallen 
 into oblivion. And after many costly experiments, three 
 American vines only have proved to be resistant to the 
 phylloxera — viz., Vitis riparia, V. rupestris, and V: aestivalis v 
 
 But have the graftings of French varieties of Vitis vini^ 
 /era on these American species proved to be always suc- 
 cessful ? I fear that this question must be answered in 
 the negative. 
 
 In the department of Herault, one of the first to suffer, 
 an area of no less than 117,500 acres is planted with 
 American vines, which begin to bear. But if we consider 
 that the total vine-area of that department is 111,706 
 morgen — about half of which is planted with American 
 vines— which have given in 1885 47,356,828 gallons, or 
 close on 424 gallons per morgen, one cannot help conclud- 
 ing that it is a very poor result for a district where the 
 usual yield ranged formerly from 2,000 to 3,800 gallons 
 per morgen, and which is still obtained in spots planted 
 with indigenous vines treated by submersion. Of course, 
 those vine-growers who had at first resorted to plantations 
 of American vines made large profits by the sale of cut- 
 tings, and to that fact may be ascribed the great propensity 
 to belaud the American varieties. 
 
 At last a distinguished agronomist, Mons. Emile Hebrard, 
 visited those departments where the grafting system is most 
 extensively carried on, and in a pamphlet, which has caused 
 a very great sensation, he has definitely proved — -(1) that 
 the American vines require a considerable amount of money 
 
123 
 
 and labour to be made to thrive, and are besides often 
 liable to " sport ; " (2) that they thrive well only in cer- 
 tain highly-favoured places seldom met with ; (3) [that 
 the grafting, although mainly practised by gangs of men 
 trained for the purpose, is most _ unreliable, for, although 
 the " soudure " [junction] migbt seem to be perfect the 
 first year, it may be laid dowl that after four years two 
 graftings only out of ten are definitely constituted; (4) 
 that the main return of the American vines is from the 
 sale of cuttings ; and (5) that no hybrid without a tend- 
 ency to reversion has yet been found, but that the Vitis 
 riparia is now granted on all sides to be the best vine for 
 grafting. 
 
 Thus, were we to rely on the plantation of American 
 vines at the Cape, without having obtained a thoroughly 
 good hybrid, we must' perforce encounter the same diffi- 
 culties as the French vignerons. 
 
 A most important one, that of grafting, might be over- 
 come by dint of perseverance ; but is it likely — and in so 
 saying I do not wish to cast a slur on our wine-farmers — • 
 that the majority of them will, or can, afford such an im- 
 mense amount of labour and money to cultivate vines which 
 will require constant care and supervision,* accustomed as 
 they are in this privileged country to sec the vines growing 
 and bearing with the least possible amount of expenditure 
 and trouble ? 
 
 A large quantity of selected seeds of Vitis riparia, V. 
 aestivalis, and V. rvpestris have been imported by the 
 Government for distribution at cost price to the farmers 
 who would apply for them. I regret to say that the num- 
 ber of applications has been very small (thirteen), and also 
 the quantity sold (51b.) . It is too early yet to ascertain 
 with confidence the chances those American vines have to 
 gr6w well here. The seedlings of V. riparia and V. rvpestris 
 I have seen are very slender, and certainly the first named, 
 
 * The cost of plantation until bearing-age is in France £110 per mor- 
 gen, and the' yearly work expended on the morgen £27 sterling. 
 
124 
 
 the stronger 'of the two, seems to me far top slender to be. 
 of any use as a grafting-stock within two years. The seeds 
 of Vitis asstivalis did not germinate. 
 
 Introduction op Scions for Grafting Purposes in thk 
 
 Colony. 
 Our potatoes, it is alleged by experienced agriculturists, 
 professional gardeners, and others, are deteriorating ra- 
 pidly, and our fruit trees are still very primitive. The 
 impulse given to the grafting of numberless varieties of fruit 
 was suddenly checked very little time after its good results 
 were beginning to be felt. Now that the exportation of 
 fruit to England is seriously contemplated, it follows of 
 necessity that, in order to be able to compete with fruit- 
 growers of other countries, our products must be improved, 
 -and scions or grafts of the best European or American 
 varieties introduced in the colony. . 
 
 The fear of importing anew some phylloxera by means 
 of those 5 scions — which are usually packed in clay — may be 
 easily alleviated. I guarantee to disinfect the parcels — 
 provided they be small — with absolute certainty. The 
 disinfecting process should be applied in Cape Town only, 
 and at the expense and risk of the importer. That mea- 
 sure would tend not only to improve our fruit, but also to 
 prevent, partially the fraudulent introduction of the same 
 into the colony. 
 
 What more easy than to send scions — or for that matter, 
 tubers, &c. — from Europe to Natal, and to have them for- 
 warded from there to the colony, overland or otherwise ? 
 Are such things done ? I fear they are ; and, as one of 
 my informants, who complains bitterly of the restrictions 
 placed upon those who observe the law, puts it: "You 
 ask if there is much infraction of the Act ? Of course 
 there is ; plenty of it. The details are carefully kept out 
 of my ken, and that of others who have rigidly kept to the 
 letter of the law. But what are you to say when varieties 
 of fruit and flower, not existing in Europe three years ago, 
 
125 
 
 suddenly make then' appearance in -Gape gardens ? They 
 are said to be seedlings^ but every competent gardener 
 knows better." 
 
 The popular belief that the phylloxera originated at Mr. 
 Anderson's " Erinville " must be dismissed as absolutely 
 groundless. The French florist who had imported his wares 
 here in 1875 came from Fontainebleau, a town which the 
 phylloxera had not then reached. Eleven years would have 
 thus elapsed ere the insect had spread over the Mowbray 
 area ; this I deem to be impossible. Too many observations 
 have convinced me that the phylloxera has been in the 
 colony six years at most ; and I am further of opinion that 
 it has originated in Messrs. Mostert's vineyard, bordering 
 on the main road. 
 
 If my hypothesis is a true one, and 1 claim a certain 
 amount of authority on the matter, the regulations with 
 regard to the importation of plants in general have not 
 prevented the introduction of the insect. If small parcels- 
 of scions are imported, subject to a thorough disinfection, 
 I am certainly of opinion that no danger of reintroducing the 
 phylloxera here is incurred ; but I cannot say the same for 
 plants and tubers introduced fraudulently. 
 
 From the observations and facts contained in this report,. 
 L trust I have shown that the measures taken with regard 
 to the destruction of the phylloxera at the Cape have been 
 such as to lead to the hope of achieving that object. 
 Fortunately for us we have had the full benefit of the ex- 
 perience gained in France, where the researches of the lead- 
 ing scientific men of that country have succeeded in finding 
 effective remedies. Like the French, we have used the 
 process of submersion, and the application of bisulphide of 
 carbon, and if we have not made use of sulpho-carbonace 
 of potassium, the third process recommended by the Com- 
 mission Superieure du Phylloxera, it is owing to the 
 
 scarcity of water. 
 
 The result obtained is highly satisfactory, and the spread 
 of the insect not such yet that it cannot be checked. Al- 
 
126 
 
 though it may be expected that new centres will be dis- 
 covered this year, those centres cannot, be, in spite of the 
 rapidity of the insect work, so developed as not to make jt 
 easy to supress them. On the wine-farmers depends to a 
 great extent the discovery of those centres. It is useless 
 to contend that they do not notice the disease in their vine- 
 yards. On three occasions only have I been sent for, and, 
 although the disease reported was not caused by the phyl- 
 loxera, I cannot help wishing that I had been sent for 
 oftener than has been the case. In spite of that difficulty, 
 I deem that if the destructive treatment of vines recognised 
 as infected, and a preventive treatment over a large radius 
 adjacent be continued, the Phylloxera vastatrix will eventu- 
 ally be destroyed in the Cape Colony. 
 
 (Extracts from the Report of the Inspector of Vineyards for 1887. Pre- 
 sented to both Houses of Parliament by command of His Excellency, 
 the Governor. 1888.] 
 
 Operations in the Moddergat Area. 
 
 A very broad belt of vines round the centres treated last 
 year did not seem at first sight to be infected ; but, while 
 proceeding with the cultivation treatment, two small 
 centres were discovered anew, thus necessitating a change 
 in the dose of injection of the insecticide, and a radius of 
 one and a half inorgen was destroyed in each case. 
 
 When, however, some time afterwards an examination 
 of the centres took place, in order to judge of the efficacy 
 <jf our proceedings, it was found that some small defects, 
 either due to the instruments or resulting from careless- 
 ness of the labourers, had occurred. This was not very 
 important in itself ; but at Nooitgedacht, on the slopes of 
 the Hellerberg, I had to come to the conclusion that there 
 at least the preventive treatment at a high dose given to 
 the area round the phylloxerized centre found last year 
 had failed, and accordingly two morgen of vines (13,000) 
 have been immediately destroyed. This is the only spot 
 
127 
 
 which gives me some anxiety, owing to its position, over- 
 hanging, so to say, an -area of about one and a half 
 million of vines, while the prevalent direction of the wind 
 as a carrying agent of the winged female, is most un- 
 favourable. A larger area is. to be destroyed this year, 
 the hardness of the ground and the impossibility of irri- 
 gating it- being such as to preclude now any further work. 
 
 Operations in the Mowbray Area. 
 The vineyards of Messrs. Mosterts, at Mowbray, have 
 received a cultivation treatment. No phylloxera could be 
 found, but the vicinity of those vines to the spots de- 
 stroyed two years ago precludes the possibility of their 
 escape from infection. The minimum dose was given; the 
 Muscatel grape suffered at first from the application of 
 the insecticide, but has since fairly recovered ; the G reen 
 Grape has withstood it well, and so have the Hermitage 
 and Steia. Professor Guthrie's small vineyard of 6,000 
 vines, at Black River, was found to contain a small phyl- 
 loxerized centre, and was immediately destroyed. ~No 
 other vineyard in the Peninsula has until now been found 
 to be infected. 
 
 Recommendations for Future Operations. 
 
 Of the source of the small failures mentioned above, the 
 one can be obviated — namely, the defect in the pumps ; 
 although having to depend on manual laboiu", I am con- 
 fident that better instruments — or at least better adapted 
 to our soil — can be obtained. As to the inemcacy of the 
 preventive treatment, though very limited, since we have 
 found, from among 250,000 vines, three solitary ones and 
 one very small centre 'to be infected, it is such that I must 
 needs declare now that it cannot be resorted to here any 
 more. 
 
 We have not to keep down the number of phylloxera on 
 the roots of the vines, but to try and exterminate the 
 whole of them, and destructive treatments alone must be. 
 
128 
 
 used, and I respectfully beg to be authorised to eradicate- 
 the whole of the contaminated vineyards of the Moddergat 
 area, numbering about 325,000 vines, covering some 40 
 morgen. It will be, in the long-run, a saving of money, 
 because, although the quantity of bisulphide needed for 
 that purpose would be 120 tons instead of 18, this is about 
 the requisite quantity for a yearly treatment of preserva- 
 tion. The cost of application is practically the same for a 
 small or large dose, and if we have to repeat for several 
 years in succession the preventive treatments, an expendi- 
 ture equal if not superior to that now advocated. will be 
 incurred. As to the Mowbray area, we must wait for the 
 results. ' -« 
 
 That up to date I have kept the insect restricted to the 
 two areas first discovered is proved by the result of my 
 inspection, and therefore I do not hesitate to say that the 
 experience I have gained from the application of preventive 
 treatments confirms me in the expression, whioh I have 
 always officially expressed from the first appearance of the 
 phylloxera, that radical measures, i.e., destructive treat- 
 ments, and these alone, should be resorted to here. 
 
 Development or the Phylloxeha at the Cape. 
 
 I have continued my observations on the development 
 hei-e of Phylloxera vastatrix, and sincerely regret that my 
 operations in the field have prevented me from devoting as 
 much attention to it as I should have liked to. Some of 
 these observations are of too technical a nature to find a 
 place here. 
 
 The exodus of the winged insect has begun on the 25th 
 of December ultimo, and is still proceeding. From one 
 single vine I have obtained seventy-four insects up to date, 
 and the largest number I obtained in one day (4th of 
 February) has been sixteen. 
 
 After the discovery of the small phylloxerized centre at 
 Nooitgedacht, I transplanted a considerable number of in- 
 sects into one of my glass cases, but up to date have not 
 
129 
 
 obtained a single winged specimen. The experiment does 
 not prove, however, that the said winged insect had not 
 yet flown and been carried to a distance by the wind. 
 The winged phylloxera seem to fly from noon to about 
 4 o'clock, at a temperature varying from 85° to 95° Fahr. 
 They are seen climbing the panes of glass, the wings 
 vibrating meanwhile with extreme rapidity ; they then 
 take a short, abrupt flight, returning always to the pane 
 most exposed to the light. Some have laid their eggs 
 against the glass. 
 
 The vine from which I obtained the winged insect has 
 not been stocked anew ; the vine previously planted in the 
 box, and long since dead, had given me twenty-four 
 females. Now, all these females having been glued 
 against the glass, and thus secured, cannot have repro- 
 duced. It is, then, interesting to find out how long this 
 parthenogenesis — i.e, breeding without the help of a male 
 — will last here. Mons. Boiteau has obtained, in France, 
 nineteen such generations. 
 
 My observations of this year lead me to believe that the 
 destructive work of the phylloxera has not been checked 
 by the cold mouths of June, July, and August, at least in 
 my conservatory. Though sluggish and sometimes appa- 
 rently torpid in June and July, they were extremely active 
 from the 1st to the 15th of August. 
 
 KEROSENE EMULSION. 
 The ioilowing formulse for the kerosene emulsion are 
 given at. pages 31 and 32 of Maskell's work on Scale- 
 Insects (1887) :— 
 
 KEROSENE AND MILK. 
 
 An excellent mixture, if milk can be obtained cheap 
 (Riley ; Hubbard ; Comstock). li must be applied in the 
 form of an " emulsion/' sprayed over the tree or brushed 
 on the bark. Hubbard gives the following directions for 
 use: Heat the milk nearly to boiling-point, and mix with 
 9 
 
130 
 
 double the quantity of kerosene. Churn violently from 
 ten minutes to half an hour, according tt> temperature, 
 until' a creamy, thick fluid is obtained ; dilute this with 
 nine or ten times the quantity of water. The mixture is 
 of course purely a mechanical one, as far at least as the 
 water is concerned, and it must be kept constantly stirred, 
 to prevent the substances from separating from the water. 
 For evergreen trees, impel the mixture on leaves and 
 branches in the finest possible spray. Sour milk is as 
 useful as fresh. 
 
 The object of the milk is not only to lessen the injurious 
 qualities of the kerosene, but also to induce it to mix more 
 freely with the water, but it is the oil alone which destroys 
 the insects and their eggs. 
 
 KEROSENE AND SOAP. 
 
 When milk is not obtainable, or too dear, nothing is so 
 excellent as this mixture. Soap itself (see below) is a 
 useful insecticide, and, in combination with kerosene, in- 
 cludes the good qualities of both substances. The cheapest 
 possible qualities of soap will do, The mixture,, which is 
 even more than the last purely mechanical, must be made 
 first of all an "emulsion." The American experiments 
 result in the following recipe and method of using : — 
 
 Common soap ■ . . . . . . . Jib. 
 
 Kerosene . . . . . . . . 2gal. 
 
 Soft water . . . . . . . . lgal. 
 
 Dissolve the soap in the water heated to boiling, then 
 add the kerosene, and churn the mixture until a creamy 
 fluid results, which thickens on cooling. Dilute with nine 
 or ten times the quantity of water. The quantities given 
 above will make about thirty gallons of liquid. Whale-oil 
 soap, soft-soap, or any other kind will do. As with the 
 milk emulsion, apply in the form of the finest spray for 
 evergreens. (Riley ; Hubbard ; personal experiment.) 
 
 . Note.— Petroleum will do as well as kerosene. 
 
 By Authority : George Dibsbury, Government Printer, Wellington.