1873] PHYLLOXERA VASTATRIX. 63 



certain extent, always be drawing nourishment at a time wlien every- 

 thing should be dormant. The above simple statements I do not pro- 

 pound as new, but having proved them by the superior quality of 

 the fruit grown, I am so convinced of the good results of this mode 

 of treatment that I shall follow it up more closely in the coming 

 season. A late house of Barbarossa and Gros Colman, grown and 

 treated in this way, will be little inferior to a house of Hamburgs. 

 I have little hesitation in saying that they would be better than the 

 latter at the time they are required, which would be after New Year's 

 Day. I also feel convinced that there are varieties of Barbarossa, and 

 one of them more free in fruiting than the other. 



A. Hendekson. 

 Thoresby Gardens. 



PHYLLOXERA VASTATRIX. 



Mr Dunn, Dalkeith Gardens, who for three years fought a most deter- 

 mined and successful battle at Powerscourt, in Ireland, with this Vine- 

 destroyer, has kindly furnished us with some particulars regarding it, 

 which were not at first intended for publication, but which he has 

 permitted us to lay before our readers ; and we do not know of 

 any one who has had more experience in watching and dealing with 

 this insect, nor any whose observations could be more reliable. Mr 

 Dunn writes : — " I am very glad to hear that you have decided upon 

 burning all your infected Vines and removing all the borders, and at 

 the same time thoroughly cleansing every part of the houses, making 

 sure that not a vestige of the insidious pest is left. By doing so you will 

 have much more confidence that you have thoroughly stamped it out. 

 Had I to deal with it again I would certainly deal with it in the same 

 way, unless I had very special reasons for cleaning and saving the 

 Vines, though I hope I may never have the task of dealing with it 

 again. One attack from so dreadful a scourge is quite enough in a 

 lifetime. By taking proper means, I have not the slightest doubt but 

 that the very worst infected vineries can be effectually cleansed ; for 

 with all my three years' experience of it, I never found that the insect 

 lived more than 48 hours when isolated from the Vine. Indeed, in all 

 the numerous experiments I tried in placing it on other plants than 

 the Vine tribe, it never lived 48 hours ; but on the Vine it prospered 

 and increased with amazing rapidity. I tried it on American varieties, 

 such as Concord, Isabella, Sombruska, and the result was the same. 

 There were Camellias, Azaleas, Cacti, Palms, Fuchsias, Pelargoniums, 

 &c., with various sorts of bedding plants in the vineries, and although 

 their foliage in some cases was put amongst the infected Vine-leaves and 



