the Phylloxera thus is stiil rapidly ou the increase in Europe, according
to late accounts one-third of all the vineyards of France were
affected, and the disease is also spreading in Italy, Spain, Germany,
Austria, Hungary, Algeria, Syria and South-Africa. The most
effectual method of combating this enemy in France has been found
in grafting the ordinary grape-vine on stocks of several American
species of Vitis. In 1891 the price per 1,000 vine-plants grafted on
the best American stock was about £10 in France. I t may be worthy
of trial, how far the grape-vine can be grafted on such other species,
not American, as may not be attacked by the Phylloxera. Professor
Mounier, of Geneva, has introduced the very expansive sulpliurous
anhydrous acid gas against the Phylloxera. The cultivation of insecticidal
herbs, to check the ingress of Phylloxera, should be more
extensively tried, as such plants might ward off the insect a t all
events in its wingless state. Dr. Herman Behr suggests for the mitigation
of this plague the ignition of wood near vineyards, when the insect
is on its wings, as all such insects seek fires, and succumb in them
largely, the attraction to the fiery light being greatest when the sky
is overcast, or when the nights are without moonlight. Mr. Leacock,
in Madeira, applies a coating of a sticky solution of resin in oil of
turpentine advantageously to tho roots of Vines affected by P h y lloxera.
Professor Riley recommends the application of kerosene-
emulsion to the roots, diluted with two or three times the quantity of
water. Mr. Koebele also found from Californian experiments th a t
resin-emnlsion will largely subdue the Phylloxera on the roots, though
it will not absolutely destroy all the insects in the ground. Dr. Clemm
extols an application of easily decomposed carbonates or sulphides to
the soil with subsequent addition of any diluted acid, whereby the
snffocating carbonic aoid gas or the sulphuret of hydrogen is formed
and liberated, the resulting salts in tlieir turn to reinvigorate and
nourish the suffering plant [Dr. G. Krause]. Successive broods of
Phylloxera maintained tlieir vitality on remnants of Vine-roots for
six years and more. Inundation to the depth of a few inches for
ahout a mouth, where th a t is practicable, completely suffocates the
Phylloxera, but renders the vine for a while much less productive.
In sandy soil this dreadful insect is retarded in its development,
action and progress. Bisulphide of carbon has proved an efficient
remedy; this expansive fluid is introduced into the soil by a peculiar
injector or throngh porous substances (wood, earth), saturated with
the bisulphide, the cost of this operation being, in France, £ 3 10s.-£4
per acre annually [Planchón, David, Marion, Robart] ; a square
yard of land requires about | ounce a t least once a year. See also
translations by K. Staiger and A. K. Findlay. Dressing with sulpho-
carboiiate of potassium is still more efficacious and less dangerous,
but involves an annual expenditure of about £ 8 per acre [W. T.
Dyer], Sand might be dug in a t the roots of vines, which may be
in imminent danger of becoming a prey of Phylloxera. I t is reported
from California tliat there cereals seem also attacked by Phylloxera.
L ittle ’s soluble Phenyle is among the remedies recommended by the
chief vitioultural officer in San Francisco against the insect. The
Phylloxera vastatrix and also its ova succumb a t a heat of 113° F.
already [Conasnon and Solomon]; thus by a careful heating of the
soil the insect and its eggs may be destroyed without hurting the
plant dangerously. The Victorian Phylloxera-Board reports th a t
600 lbs. common salt per acre will destroy any Vine-roots remaining
in the ground after eradication. Thorough eradication seems however
the safest procedure. Among the fungus-pests the too well-
known Oidium is effectually checked by repeated application of
powdered sulphur. The mildew, Peronospora vitioola, is another
dreaded enemy, and has caused heavy losses. To Professor Millardet,
of Bordeaux, the credit is due of having first made known an
effectual remedy, namely, by syringing the diseased vines with a
solution of sulphate of copper or sulphate of copper and lime— 1 lb.
sulphate of copper to 20 gallons of water. Professor Bâillon however
states, th a t this remedy against the mildew has in many cases
not proved so efficacious as was expected, but th a t a combination of
sulphate of copper and ammonia not only destroyed the Peronospora,
but at the same time greatly stimulated the growth of the vmes.
Mr. Alfred T a it observes, th a t in Portugal preference is given over
the Bordeaux-fluid to the dry application of a powder containing the
substances of th a t mixture (sulphate of copper, lime and sulphur)
as prepared by him for subduing the Peronospora. Another efficacious
remedy has latterly come into use, known as Fostite, which consists
of finely powdered oxide of copper and talcum and is applied by
bellows ; it is used against fungi as well as insects. Pieces of
mirror-glass, suspended from the branches of Vines and fruit-trees
help to keep off predatory birds. The Bordeaux-mixture has also
proved the best remedy against Black Bot, which is caused by
Laestadia Bidwellii and some allied Fungs, such as Phoma uvicola
and Phyllosticta Labruscæ. The Black Bot-disease, which^ works
great havoc among the vines in the United States in moist districts,
is hardly noticed in regions with a dry climate [Scribner and Viala].
Mr. J . Sisley found a solution of 6 lbs. of common salt in 100 quarts
of w ater effective. Another form of mildew has made its appearance
on vines in Victoria, viz., Erysiphe vitigena (Cooke and Masses) ; in
the eastern coast-districts of Australia also the blight of the vine-
leaves, arising from Pestalozzia uvicola (Spegazzini) lias been found.
Vitis heterophylla (Thnnberg) was discovered in Western Skensi
(34° North, 108° 50' East) up to 11,000 feet elevation, by the Abbé
David ; the same wild plant was sent from Kinhua, by Consul
Cooper, as a prickly vine and as bearing large purple grapes ; it also
extends to Jap an ; several other species of Vitis exist iii the cooler
regions of China [Hemsley]. Travellers through new temperate
reo'ions might include closely kept vine-seeds among those to be
disseminated. Cream of T a rta r is obtained from sediments, incrnsted
during fermentation of Grape-jnice or storage of wine. From this
sediment, mainly b itartrate of potassium, is separable tartaric acid
through removing the alkaline base by sulphuric acid.