236 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



wlio is not only a zealous worker during official hours, but, like 

 Mr. Wyatt, devotes a very considerable portion of bis leisure to 

 the work of the station. 



Last year the grapes grown in the vineyard were sold to a local 

 vigneron, but this season Mr. Wyatt converted them into wine, which 

 promises exceeding well. The wines made are of the following 

 types : Claret, Burgundy, Hock, and Riesling ; and the total quantity 

 made will be about 3,500 gallons. 



Phylloxera at the Head Station. 



The unfortunate discovery that phylloxera had invaded the vine- 

 yard attached to the station was made by Mr. Dubois some time 

 before his departm^e. The infected portion was promptly treated 

 with carbon bi-sulphide to destroy the vines, and as many of the in- 

 sects as possible, in accordance with the data obtained during our 

 experiments in 1900. This part of the vineyard has been uprooted, 

 the land thoroughly and deeply subsoiled, and is now being planted 

 with grafted American vines. It should thus afford a practical test 

 of the efficacy of resistant stocks. Since the discovery of phylloxera 

 at our Rutherglen Head Station, a considerable amount of apprehen- 

 sion exists regarding the probability of the pest being introduced into 

 other districts by means of cuttings, etc. It may be noted, however, 

 that the infection was in the part of the European vines most remote 

 from the nurseries, and the same implements were never used in 

 cultivation. Under instructions, early in the year, I submitted a com- 

 prehensive report on this question, as well as on the methods to be 

 adopted to check the spread of the insect. In futur^ no cuttings will 

 be sent out to clean districts, and all cuttings will be treated before 

 despatch to any other parts. The most effective method of treating 

 cuttings is to expose them to the fumes of carbon bi-sulphide in an 

 air-tight compartment, as a box or vat. That it does not injure the 

 cuttings is shown from the fact, that those kept for a prolonged time 

 in an atmosphere charged to saturation with these fumes had their 

 vitality in no way impaired. The eggs, if any, (and these are our 

 chief fear on cuttings), are destroyed by this treatment. The canes, 

 when treated, should be a little longer than actually required for 

 cuttings, and then the exposed ends may be removed before planting. 

 The carbon bi-sulphide must be placed in wide, open, shallow vessels 

 on a shelf above the cuttings in the air-tight compartment. This is 

 owing to the specific gravity of the chemical, none of which should 

 touch the canes. Treatment with hydrocyanic acid gas, as for scale 

 insects, etc., on citrus trees and fruits, would, where it could be con- 

 viently applied, also prove effective. 



Grafting Operations. 

 The grafting was conducted here last season on a fairly large 

 scale. It had never been so extensively attempted in Australia pre- 

 viously. The operation is now in full swing, but, owing to reductions 

 in the staff, this work has not proceeded as quickly as desired. The 



