The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-02-25
THE SCOURGE or FRENCH VINEYARDS
A SMALL INSECT LIKELYTO PROVE MORE DIS
AsTROus THAN THE GERMAN INVASION.

IhAN IliE SfRhAN IN VASION,
The Importance of her vine growing ia.
dnstry I" the trade and revenues OF France
Ia widely, although vaguely, recognized
The fact ia that The value of wines and
brandies annually exported in wood or glass
's computed upon trustworthy statistics
at $6G OO0, 900. As regards the share Of the
national burdens now borne by the same
products, it appears that the impost which
ak years ag" Welded S45 GOO 600 prod duce.i
IN the Year 1874 about $40 G00, 900 Under
these circumstances, the destructive and
| rapidly expanding ravages of the insect
! winch received the name of the pbyllorerG
and which up to very recent date was to-
| tally unknown in France, are Invested with
| general interest.
Until abCut twenty five years ago the
french vine grower had nothing to fear
beyond the wholly fortultons caiamites Df
excessive cold, drought, or rains-except
the ordinary vine worm and two or three
parasites aud maladies not specially for
m1able intractabla. At that epoch,
owing possibly to changed methods of cult,
vatl"n, which may be preset t'y indicated, a
curIons pestllence broke out, whose precise
source and nature are Yet undetermined,
out which may be described IA sort of
grapevine cholera. For this-the 30 called
Otdium after numerous unsuccessful at
tempts to arrest the blight which it occa
stoned. perfect antid"'r was a. last found |
cific n new era of prosperity seemed to open |
for French vineyards, when suddenly q |
new enemy, m ore tenacious aud red Dubtahle |
than any of it's predecessOrs-the now ia
nous phylloxera appeared in one Of the
southern departments.
Prior to 1868, the phylloxera was COM
monty supposed t" be endemic to the Ame-
rlcan Continent. In fact, however, il had
been recognized in GlscOGy on the white
cabbage, and was atterwards detected IN
Scotland aRd Ircland. Two years later its
presence was affected on the grapevine in
the ncighboraood of Nimes, from which
point it spread rapidly up tho right bank of
the Rhone, moving subsequently south and
west, until, in 1874, it had covered two dis
tricts of sovereign Importance tn the vine
growing industry, the Bordb!ais and the
Beam jolals. We are told that the plant as
sailed by 1t betraya nothing abnormal ~
the eye, bnt gradually, as It depicted Of
sap, lanGulsars ~lthrrs, pEd dies Ii tuch
4 vine he then pulled ny. tire roots are seen
t" be coated with a puliul"tt mas If *.
ceedjngly mjnuiv insects, "iaich are f,urd
under tie microscope, haif = nl'lliMut,r N
length, nr,i To bu ;ucn:,hoa with wirgs ,
W" GIny add that tAe white ,;;apu is more
lahle to iae attack of these IrlusOrIa chan
Ia the red, aud thi5 in no case is plant
infested With them totally destroyed be
ore IA" fourth year. But tie problem is l
to extrpate she insect. as s3rn Gs is pics.
'nce Is discovered, without also killing the
'ine With the exception of single re- n
nedy, too costly for practical application,
french science has, so far, proved pcwerless
% arrest the mischief, and the appearance r
IT the phylloxeTa in a vineyard is the sure c
precursor of ultimate decay. Z
The truth is, that the whole aystem of Y
mo culture has been revolutioniz4d in 7
rance during the present century. For
nerly the slips were set at Il considerable
'etauce from one another, ;he interspaces
eing filled with cereals which restored to 1t
e soil thoee elements which are demand
d by the vine. These conditions gave
lse to the rule that manure should never -
nter q vineyard, and the rule explains "'
40 delicate fAvOr-the 80 called govt du no
TFOr-flon whICh the best crUS OF France
'quIed their reputation. Nowadays the VI
creased cost of land, and g temptatlon p"
) tax IT'S resources to the utturmnst, have
ansed tho vine stocks to w. sp CLOSELY
ached that iaterrianting is ifnposaibIe,
nd the use OF fertlizers Is necessary and Re
iivc:a&l.
Whatever tho cluses or cundiLiOno -
hich may account for the sudden appear
zee OF tha Phyll0xcra, 1t Ia plain enough RI
'At Its cxtlTpation lis u matter of vita!
';'sequence TO tho nation. In some "a
lartors the approheH Haiona of vine growers He
ave been reused almost to panic, and the 7
cademy OF Sciences, at one OF it's sessions, t
the most radical measures =
Imely, the immediate pulling up of every +
no on which the presence Of the insect
s been certified. Such precaution
ould entail the ruin of great many pro-
letors, and notable falling off in the -
ne production of France; yet in the end l'<
may be taken through despair of other r
medles At this moment a bill is pend viii
9 in the French Senate looking to the ti9I
orough study ofthe malady, and clothing rat,
Government with the power of Gu, pai
-Ciny oDnroDrie+o +rootn,o,. /. full
,roaS9 'io"'tieH'' ~ Is app
'Sc'N an S8HSEerAtlOR TO say that no
ng sInce the Fcauco -Prussian war has :
on traught with 80 much menace to the +,
's2eilty of France as the abrupt invasion
ths insignificant insect; nor has any.
ng more urgently imposed prompt, wise,
! energetic action
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ne following ID the Boston B5aid OF