The morning call., 1890-11-10

together with the result OF held ODSerya-
tions and experiments, in. report soon to
be published.
FOREIGN VINES.
"1n May of this year special agent en-
gagged in this work and was granted leave OF
absence without pay for six months in order
that he might visit France, Spain. Italy and
Northern Africa in search Of information
that will aid him in his work. For many
years the vineyards OF these countries have
been ravaged by diseases, which, according
to published accounts, is very similar to the
one in California. 1t was claimed that
within the past two years the disease had
almost entirely disappeared from certain
portions Of Italy. and it was principally to
get some definite information in regard to
that matter that the agent desired to person.
ally Inspect European vineyards. 1t Is hoped
that his investigations will enable him to
throw some light on the best means OF COM
batting the California trouble which has al
ready devastated thousands of flourishing
vineyards, causing losses almost beyond
calculation.
PEACH-YELLOwS.
"The peacl-yelow's work is being prose-
cuted with vgor along practically the same
line followed the last year. Some important
results bearing on the treatment of this dis
ease has been obtained, but as yet they are
not sufficiently conclusive to warrant their
publication. Experiments have been made
with the use of hydrocyanic acid gas under
tents, as a remedy for the red scale. In the
last report statement was made that the
cost Of this remedy had been greatly reduced
by experiments made by one Of the Califor-
Mia agents, ard further experiments have
developed the means by which the process
may be easily rendered Tore cfficscious and
the expense still further reduced.
"The question of the damage to the grape
by phylloXera in California has been taken
up and certain vine-growing regions of the
State have been visited by an agent, who is
making tests and observations.
FLORIDA SCALE INSECTS
"lhe division has been appealed to in ref
erence to possible danger by the importation
of the destructive Florida scale insects into
California, matter which has attracted
good deal of attention the past season in the
latter State. 1t seems that frequent acci-
dental importations Of these scales, es-
peclally of the purple scale, long scale and
cbaff scale, have been made, but in no case
have the insects been destructive. II is,
therefore, argued by many that the climate
of the Pacific Coast is not favorable to their
incl ease, while others hold opposite views,
and are much alarmed The Department
Etymolosist is of the opinion:that while
there are some grounds for the former be-
lief we cannot exercise too much care in
preventing the carrying of these destructive
scale insects from one section Of the world
to another.
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.
have, therefore. been particularly
careful to have plants received from foreign
countries and to be shipped to different
States carefully disinfected before such
shipment. as [ am very anxious that the
department. shall not be the means of
further dissimenating obnoxious species. l
earnestly recommend that similar precau-
tions be taken by all nurserymen and hor-
ticulturists in shipping plants to other
States. In view of the success that has at
tended 0e importation of the Australian
adybug to prey upon the fiuted scale in Cali
fornia, pu0lic attention has been specially
drawn TO this manner of destroying injuri-
Gus insects through the instrumeutality OF
their natural enemies, but success in any
instance is not tikeiy to follow without the
most complete, thorough and intelligent
direction. Our entomologists. fully realizing
the importance OF this question, have made
various efforts during the year. so far as
they can be made with the assistance of
foreign correspondents equally interested in
the subject, to import desired species and to
reciprocating by sending others abroad"