The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-07-04

/ NNN lNhNNl lllnNH lNl lNrNlhrlNrh nl
/ tho museums OF scientific inslitu
lIonfi they have employed NH lhc
resources Of ingenuity and patience
IN studying whatever pertains IA
tho habits, propagation, elo, oi
every variety OF lnseals, and ns.
signed 10 them their generic and
specific names yet In these ulllila,
rlan times, II may be well asked,
"CW B0aoi"
Tho ylsilatloHs Of the yoraclons
loeusls during tho past two years
have certainly afforded onlomolo,
gists glorious opportunity to OK,
hihlt 10 the world some evidence
that their layorto science II capable
Of moro practical results than 10
stock museums, or 10 afford the
means Otamusemonl andn livelihood
to college proiessors. All the labors
and publications Of the cntomolo.
glsl In tho pay Of the State Of Mis-.
souri have furnished no means 10
arrest the march Of the countless
glusshoppcrs, and but for Provi,
dcnce aud according 10 somc) the
proclamation Of tho Governor Of
Missouri, this pest would to-day be
still IWyaging tho vast aud loHilo
lands of the West and Northwest.
desire, however to make one
exception in favor Of II gentleman
who, Il year and u half ago, came
from Switzerland and made his
bone here, surrounded by his chill
dron and humorous and most
worthy relatives, refer TO Prof
Jacob Boil, an enthusiast IN otymol.
ogy. A few months ago he carried
with him TO Europe very large
collection Of insects, destined for the
museums of Berlin, Dresden, Won
ma, st. Petersburg, and other cities
whore no was greatly comp,imcnlcd
for the skiIllul and scientific mode
Of preserving and arranging his
specimens,
1t is well known that the vine.
yards OF France, Germany, SwlScr'
land, and other countries have II foe
which, beginning about ten years
ago, has threatened to sap and to
destroy the means Of livelihood OF
millions Of people. refer to the
phyIlocora, or grapclousc, an insect
which lives about the root Of the
vine, and by boring into ii accom-
plishcs its final destruction. France
has q standing reward of
a half million Of francs for
an effective mode Of destroy
ing this pest. During Mr.. Bolts
extensive travels, his philosophic
mind, thoroughly familiar with tho
habits OF this insect, approached, as
he thinks, the solution Of this dill
cult problem. He had observed
that the owners of orchards and
vineyards, in the vicinity Of towns
and cities, using stone.coal Tor fuel,
often employed coal ashes around
the roots Of their fruit trees and
as n fertilizer, or MS n
dcshoNer Of insaots; and "e far nv
his observations extended, vine
yards thus treated were exempt
from tho dcvastatiOns Of the phyllo-
cera. Before this he had become
thoroughly convinced that TO make
war upon the insect after It's pres
rnce is demonstrated by the sickly
appearance Of the vine, would be
but locking the stable after the
horse has been stolen; and that the
only effective mode would be to
render the sol about the roots OBJ.
noXioLs to the insect, No doubt,
many chemical substances would
accomplish that object; but these
would also be deleterous to the
plant, which while stone-coal ashes
have rather a tendency to stimulate
its growth. He attributes their
effect on the phylocora to the fact
that ashes ale powerful absorbonts
Of moisture, and that this insect, as
is well known, can exist only in a
damp soil /
Mr. Boil accordingly addressed
communications to the governments
)f France, Prussia and other vino
growing countries, and also in
parted his theory to many Of the
Iirst scientists of Europe. He has
received most gratifying
proofs of the high value placed upon
his researches, and has also been MS
,ured by the highest authorities
That his theory shall be thoroughly
tested in the coming season, and
that he will be duly informed of the
result.
Prof. Boil desires to furnish, at the
proper time, to the public, Il com
pIete outline Of his important dis
covory, the successful establishment
Of which will place his name by the
side of the greatest benefactors OF
his race, and may impart an Impulse
to the Investigations in this branch
of science, leading towards more
practical and beneticent results than
heretofore.
Alter listening to his profound
and shrewd observations
one cannot but admit that his deduc-
tons are correct, and that the result
will fully justify all his oxpec'a,
tons. H. W. a.
Dallas, June 80, 1878.