New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-04
MENACE TO CHAMPAGNE.
PHYLLoXERA AMONG THE OUTLYING VINE

PHYLLoxERA AMONG THE OUTLYING VINES.
The appearance Of the phylloxera in the champagne
district has again called the attention of the French
press TO the condition Of the wine trade In France.
Fortunately in Champagne itself the situation is not
so bad as might have been feared from the first brief
and hasty reports by cable Efforts continue to he
made to prevent as far possible the adulteraton
of wines destined for expectation or for home CON
sumption. and this has necessitated the creation oi
an official examining laboratory In Paris.
As 10 the presence Of the phi, llOxera vines In
ChampaSnc proper 1t must be said. first, that only
few vineyards diseased and, secondly. That they
do not belong to the renowned district OF what arc
known as the glands cruS," vintage wines OF the
champagne country. The first vineyard attacked by
the terrible is not even located In the famous
Department of the Marine. which alone boasts OF
"crls,, or vintage wines7 such as arc produced IN
the communes Of Ay, Nerzcnay and Bouzy. Inc I'M
fortunate vineyard is situated In the ncghborlng DO
partment OF the isne Nevertheless the disease being
liable to spread the local authorities notified the Min
lister of Agriculture, who sent from Paris an Inspector
general NJ Coudn0n. under whose care were applied
TO the vine the disnfectants used In such cases
Moreover, the Mayor of the celebrated as'r''' Va
Epernsy published notice informing the grow
ers of the unfortunate event. and warning thch 10
watch their whey ards and notify the authorities ~i'
three days OF the appearance oi u'o oiSo"'0 '
their vineya
II Is TO be expected that these preventive measures
will stop the phylloxera in It's threatening march upon
the true champagne district II IN former years so
disease has spread considerable portion OF Tie
wine region in France this due TO the tariincS' Z"
the wine growers applying the remedies c''coVeied
lax science The introduction OF American plants mas
succeeded especially in the department OF the cf7"
in restoring the ruined Vineyards STILL the decrease
In the wine production very large. and led Inc
way 10 the aducrat.onS denounced by the Acah'!hH
OF Medicine and 50 strictly punished ny the legal
authorities But II Is sometimes very hard task 10
discover them which explain, the complaints con-
stant!v made in the French about the Wholesome
hes, OF wine Quite recently 1t was stated that
da ge.ous proportion Of potassium salts was miAed up
with winc That substance. when put In small
ouaYt, in a cask tributes to max the wine clea'r
and also to keep II in good condition. when tran ported
Eut saw, the Courier du Soir' OF Paris. IL nAppens
freouentIy that wine Is loaded with 1t In such
quantity that II seems 10 the stomach As ii ono Han
swallowed not a liquid but something solid
Tie plyllDxcra. the O'dum tho mdew. ana ot'c!
diseases oi the compelled the producer, anu
make up for the deficiency In the natural production
Thu, h4, into France wine made OF rAisns
imported mainly from Greece. the lorian ISLANDS
Asia Minor and the Archipelago. Thi, would not b"
bad VINE il could h. sold ju, aS Is and for villa;
il is II Is no. In the least dc"tclIu> o. health. aud
fortunately ,he French people cannot be Icconci"d
TO TIE idea Of driaAmg II it, natural and proper
state, 80 il /, mixed up with VINE made from fresh
grape. This COMPOUNDED wiz" l. far inferior 10 thai
mace Of ra ~iDS alone. and require comparatively
large addition Of al, OlOi - pft>crvc II.