Secretary's Budget. 349 



Iij 1883, wheu my vines swarmed with rotting and rotted 

 grapes, I wanted a matured specimen of the fungus — a grape upon 

 whicli the perithecia were developed, had ruptured, and were ex- 

 truding their contents of spores as usual. It was difficult to find 

 one. Hence I reasoned that the prospect for a full crop of that 

 kind of seed was puor, and that I would be justified m giving extra 

 care to my vines, with hope of reward for the labor in a probable 

 healthy vintage. 



The utter destruction prevailing for some years had discour- 

 aged me. My jjrognostication was verified. The first attack of 

 rot in 1884 was slight, evidently consequent on scarcity of germs. 



Nevertheless, during the preceding winter, prompted by' that 

 curiosity which makes one hunt for what he does not want to find, 

 I continued search for matured perithecia of the fungus. I found 

 them and germinated them between microscopic slides. 



I'his unsatisfactory discovery convinced me that, however 

 scarce^ there were yet " a few more of the same sort left," and still 

 farther, encouraged extra exertion to paralyze the activity of those 

 few left, if possible. What was done to accomplish this will be 

 described in a future pajoer. — A. W. P. 



THE PHYLLOXERA 



Of the grape vine, is an American insect, which has perhaps for 

 untold ages, been feeding on the American species of grape vine ; 

 but, for reasons which we need not here follow, it is not seriously 

 injurious to these vines. But the European grape — belonging to 

 another species — is not able to withstand the attacks of the insect 

 as the American species of vine can ; and this is the reason why, in 

 America, there is no serious trouble to the cultivator from Phyl- 

 loxera, while the European vineyards are almost totally destroyed 

 when the insect gets among them. 



The grape is cultivated very largely about Heading, and other 

 places in the State of Pennsylvania — both for wine making and for 

 other purposes — and the Phylloxera is found abundantly every- 

 where. No means are employed against it, because it is no serious 

 injury ; but it must be remembered, as. already stated, that the 

 graj)e cultivated is of the American and not the European species. 

 All attempts to succeed with the European grape in Pennsylvania 

 during the past one hundred years, have failed, as it is now believed 

 from injury through Phylloxera. 



As the insect is already in Europe, it is of no use for the 

 French Government to embarrass trade by laws against its intro- 



