The San Francisco call., 1898-02-06

received by California vineyard
 N ists than that relating to the dis
 covery of a "cure" for the phyl- loxera that has just come to this country from France.
 M. de Dubois, on the 18th of NoVem- Der. 1897, made a communication to the Academy of Sciences in Paris, stating that he had discovered a natural para site to the phylloxera.
 This announcement, couched In slm- ple terms and straightforward, has claimed the attention of scientists the world over. Especially in California does the interest run high, for it is here that the dread phylloxera originates Over at the State University in Berke- ley they are preparing to send spe- cialist to France to investigate and re- port on the efficacy of the discovery.
 The importance of the discovery of something that will destroy the phyl- loxera, the menace and constant terror of vineyardists, can scarcely be real ized. With the deadly phylloXera prob lem solved, California will be able to compete with France and Italy in the production Of rare wines. The vines native to California do not make good wines, and realizing the large revenues accruing from a f1ourishing wine in dustry the old Mission padres imported vines and planted them alongside of the native vines. Other States had tried to grow the foreign vines, but unsuc- cessfully. Here, however. they throve and in the course of a few years the vineyards of this State had as many foreign vines as native ones. But then fthe trouble began to brew. The phyl- loxera is natural parasite to the na- tive California vines and has existed since time immemorial without harm ing the vines, but it was discovered that as soon as the phylloXera attacked the imported vines they ceased to bear in prOfusion and grew less and less able to withstand the attacks of the deadly parasite.
 In 1863 it was first noticed that the phylloxera had found it's way into France and was devastating the vines there ConsteTnation reigned supreme. The wine industry means bread and butter to thousands upon thousands of the people of France and the European vines are utterly non-resistant to the deadly parasite. The French Govern ment offered S300,000 reward for a rem edy that would prove efficient in han ding the phyiloXera. A commission of the greatest scientists in France was appointed and ordered to make an act ual test of every remedy proposed.
 About 1J000 remedies were offered, most of them absolutely ridiculous, but according to orders the august mem beTs of the commission had to give every one a fair trial. The unique spec tacle of grave scientists sprinkling the concentrated extract of toads' legs on the affected vines, or marching in sol emn file tinkling COW bells at stated in- tervals. walking three steps forward and then turning around twice, and other remarkable ceremonies ad infinitum, caused ripple of amusement to spread over France and scatter the gloom of impending danger for moment. But all too soon 1t was realized that the danger had not even been fully meas ured. Entire vineyards succumbed to the dread parasite and whole villages had to emigrate. When hope had we'll nigh fled NJ Henri Maris came forward wwith a theory that while 1t involved Sthe expenditure of an incalculable sum of money, yet was hailed as the one means of salvation. If" said M Maris. the California vine can resist the phylloxera we must send over there for quantity of them, uproot our
 
 the California vine with our non-resist- ant ones.
 Scientists agreed that this was the only thing to be done, but how to bring it about was the serious prob lem that confronted them. The peasant could not afford to uproot his vineyards and replant them, so the Government came to his aid The magnitude of the expense incurred can be partially real xrrIa ic c+o fad in hn Government statistics that it amounted to more than the entire cost of the Franco-PrusSian war, including the in demnity of five billions, property de- stroyed, and food and pay for the troops.
 But scientists did not cease to grap- pie with the problem of destroying the phylloxera itself, for it has always been believed that it could be solved in some way other than by uprooting and replanting. However it looked as though the honor of discovering the means of wiping it out would fall to some unborn scientist in the centuries to come. The act providing for the re- ward of $300, 900 to the inventor was allowed to become illegal, and then comes forward NJ Henri de Dubois with what is thought is the true solu ton. NJ. de Dubois believed, with other students. that there must be a parasite of the phylloxera. and if that could be found the phylloxera would be doomed that is to say, that the phylloxera, parasite itself which feeds on grape zines, could be wiped out, if para tete that feeds on the phylloxera could be found
 M. de Dubois discovered the action of the parasite upon the phylloxera en- tirely by accident. He had thrown some handfuls of contaminated earth and fertilizer on a pot with 8 vine Infested by the phYlloXera. and having