Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-08-29
Replantins Phylloxerated Vineyards.
tCultlvator's Guide.l

Among the many methods proposed
for the determination Of the ply lloxera,
or for checking its progress, that Of
completely destroying the vines has
Justly become most popular. Even this
method meets with but little success,
unless one aims merely at checking the
spread from single infested spot in q
vineyard. In this case usually too few
vines are taken up to include all those
| that are diseased; sufficient numbers Of
the insect still remaining around the
margin of the spot TO thoroughly infest
the surrounding vines. But in this case
| 1t is certainly valuable as a check. If
| it is desired, as it is in many cases, TO
re. plant whole vineyards that have been
| destroyed, 1t can even then readily be
seen that total destruction of the
vines as deep as can be reached will be
| insufficient to secure safety for replant-
ing Immediately. The deepest roots
will be infested and soon infect the
newly planted vines.
Ali our vineyardists have noticed how
long the roots remain fresh after the
vines are cut down. If the insect clings
to life as tenaciously on these fresh roots
as upon those which have been bottled
for experiment, many years would pass
before the land could be replanted in
safety. 1t is known that the insect
thrives and propagates upon roots which
have been kept for months where no
root.life was apparent; moisture alone
seemed necessary for the insects exist.
ence. 1t then becomes necessary TO find
out how long these roots will support
the pest. Our own vineyardists have re-
peatedly tried the experiment, and are
now doing 80, of killing the vines and
immediately replanting with non-resist-
ant stalks. In no case have heard of
their being successful, although in many
cases the vines have been stimulated by
thorough application of fertilizers.
Australian experience shows that two
or three years experience is sufficient.
Some years ago the government took up
the subject and proposed quarantine of
districts and total determination of all
infested vineyards. Two or three years
after the government had ordered the
destruction Of the vineyards, and the or.
der was supposed TO have been carried
out, the officials appointed for the super
vision Of the work declared the districts
free from the phylloxera. Some incred.
ulous members of the Viticultural Soci-
ETY., not satisfied with the work, sent
out an agent on tour of inspection,
and, in confirmation of their suspicious,
he found a large percentage of the places
still infested. Sufficient life remained
in the roots to support the phylloxea;
replanting was, therefore, declared inn
practicable.
A very marked case came under my
observation in one Of the old vine-g grow
ing districts of this State, which has
been visited with the phylloxera. The
soil in the locality is deep and strong,
and had borne excellent vines, which
were afterwards destroyed and taken
up, and the land replanted to orchard.
Two or three years later some OF the old
roots, two inches in diameter, and from
one to one and half feet below the sur
face Of tho ground, were dug up and
found to be completely covered with the
insect Some of the roots had been kept
alive by occasional sprouts springing
up, but these were kept down as much
as possible and could scarcely have been
the cause of preservation Of all the roots,
for some remained dormant two years be.
fore showing any signs of sprouting. This,
also shows how difficult it is to COM
pletely kill the old roots, especially in
loose airy soil; some time may pass be-
fore any rootlife is apparent.
In European countries, where the plan
of total destruction has been practiced,
much stress is laid upon the complete
abandonment Of the plots for vine-grow-
ing until all root.life ceases. Unfor-
tunately the length of time for this to
take place has not been determined, and
each case must be left to the judgment
of the wine grower. 1t lies with him
to decide whether, in his haste, he will
endanger the prospects of his future
vineyard by planting in the midst of a
disease which will certainly master the
vines before they have had a chance to
become thoroughly established.