Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1883-08-23
Lofsy Lying.

The following specimen of mendacity
we clip from the Boston Herald of Au.
gust 7th, 1883. The writer speaks with
freedom about something he knows
nothing about, and then tries to hide
his lying behind Chicago man. as
follows:
A prominent Chicago business man
who has recently made an extended tour
through New Mexico and Colorado, says:
The phylloxera-- insect which has
ravaged the vineyards Of France has
attacked the California vines also. Tie
people would shoot any one who would
say such thing there, but a gentleman
in whom l have every confidence told
me that certain unknown insect that
has given the growers great trouble the
last season is simply the genuine phyl-
loxera. He showed me the insect, and
some of the ravages it was making.
The people say that the insect attacks
only the weakly, useless vines, but my
informant said that might be taken for
what it is worth. He went SO far as to
prophecy the total destruction of the
grapevine within very few years. You
are aware that that insect is SO wonder
fully multiplicative it has been found i'm
possible to stamp it out. For example,
one insect lays five hundred eggs month.
Each egg brings forth an insect that lays
five hundred eggs within the month.
Thus. If we have one insect to start
with in May, we have 500 in June, ESQ.,
900 in July, $500. 900, 900 in August,
and SO on in geometrical ratio. Now, l
believe an immense injury has been
done to thousands Of people who, by
false representations, have been induced
to emigrate to the far West. In fact,
know it to be so. California is a very
poor country for poor man--everything
is dear but fruit. Grass will not grow
except in small and specially favored
spots where there is plenty of water--it
il sand, pure sand, although, with some
sparse vegetation in the way Of sage
brush or wild corn. The wheat crop
makes no show in comparison with other
States. Even as far east as middle and
western Kansas the immigrants and vari-
GUS colonies OF settlers who have made
their homes there are about as badly off
as they can be. 1t is impossible to raise
crop with 30 little rain, and the farms
will not pay for irrigation. | hold
it is q crime to induce immigrants to set.
tie by the colored and exaggerated
stories that agents make it their bust
ness to spread over the country.
The statement that the people OF
California "would shoot any one who
stated that phylloxera was here, is one
OF the most inexcusabe lies that could
be told. The people of California. as
soon as phylloxera appeared in few
places on the north part of the State.
sounded the alarm, and published the
fact far and wide. Public meetings
were held, pamphlets were publ he'd
and scattered over the State, giving pic
lures of the insect and its ravages. The
writer OF this article has written aud
published columns concerning this fell
destroyer, and every vineyardist was pat
on his guard against it. just where the
insect was, has been published every
week, ever since itappeared in the State,
and caution has been given to the pub
lie against purchasing cuttings in an
affected neighborhood. A q result, the
insect has not spread, and active efforts
are being made to exterminate 1t where
it is now found. The phylloxera is
found in but very limited area, while
nineteen twentieths Of the vineyard
acreage of the State has always been
free from this curse.
1t is true. that the people know how
to prevent phylloxera. Mr.. Charles
Krag, few days since, observed Mis-
sion Vineyard in Napa county that was
badly infected with phylloxera, except
one corner, where the vines had been man.
ured highly with stable manure and
ashes. In this part the vines were
healthy. strong and fruitful. while in all
the rest the vines were struggling
against this baieful insect. That state
ment gives the key to the remedy against
phylloxera. Keep the land rich and
we'll supplied with such fertilizers as the
grape needs. Don't stsrve the vine. 1t
is great feeder and needs more room
and more food" It is the closely
planted vines that mildew and get phyi-
loxera. Common sense will kill the
phylloxera. II q vintner is SO penurious
Is to plant bis vines close together aud
attempt to get out of the soil more than
it should yield, he will find disease and
death will follow, after few years. as
surely as night follows the day.
II tho vines are planted q generous
distance apart they will be strong and
have plenty of food and sunshine, and
yield fine fruit, while ii close together
they will commit homicide, and be of
but little worth unless irrigated copi-
ously and fertilized. A grapevine
should be well treated. like every other
plant that is expected to produce good
fruit But the writer in the Boston
Herald gives himself away by admitting
'na' ms informant ABOUT Caiifornia only
came As lar as colorado and New
eA'co' ano 20 gave ms opinion at a
Instance Oh ooo miles from California
as 20 wheat .ne yield per acre Is larger
N osniormA 'nan IN any o'ner state IN
'ne omon' and the same Is the case with
corn ana Dariey' As 70 grass the wild