I. AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY. 393 



fresh cow-dung with fine earth ; and by the middle of July 

 these were found full of eggs or grubs, of one-quarter inch 

 in length on the sides most exposed to the sun. After care- 

 fully collecting these eggs, etc., they Avere burned outside 

 the forest. 9 (7, 1872, vi., 86. 



THE PHYLLOXEKA SCOURGE. 



The subject of thfe ravages of the Phylloxera, or grape- 

 vine louse insect, continues to occupy the minds of vine-cult- 

 urists in France, although the winter season has not been 

 favorable to the prosecution of many experiments. Mr. Fau- 

 con, who has been among the more diligent investigators into 

 the natural history of this insect, reports that he has not lost 

 sight of it for any moment, but has made repeated examina- 

 tions of the roots of the vines as well as the plant itself, and 

 has satisfied himself that the excessive rains have caused the 

 death of a great many of the insects; and that this will al- 

 ways take place whenever the submersion of the roots of the 

 vine is complete for a suflEicient length of time, or else when 

 the rains are capable of producing a corresponding effect. 

 The dead insects preserve their shape and natural color in 

 winter for a long time, if protected from contact with the 

 atmosphere ; but as soon as exposed they dry up, and the 

 color becomes a dark brown or black. It requires, therefore, 

 a very practiced eye to distinguish the dead insects from those 

 which are only hibernating, this sometimes being impossible 

 even by the aid of the lens. 6 B, March 24, 1873, 768. 



BRITISH REPORT OX PHYLLOXERA. 



The British government has lately published a Blue-book 

 upon the Phylloxera vastatrix, or vine louse insect, embracing 

 a letter from the British minister in Portugal, calling atten- 

 tion to the ravages of the disease, and mentioning the action 

 taken by the government of Portugal toward the extirpation 

 of the evil. The other documents presented are from the 

 British consul at Oporto, and numerous papers from the 

 French authorities. Dr. Hooker, to whom the whole subject 

 was referred, informs the government that the only really 

 effectual remedy at present discovered, and one which, of 

 course, can be applied only partially, is a complete flooding 

 of the vineyards in winter. He also states that in many in- 



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