214 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL.84 



That this catastrophe should have occurred just when it did was 

 particularly insupportable. The Franco-German War began in 1870, 

 monopolized the whole strength of the French Empire, and left the 

 nation at its conclusion enfeebled to such an extent and Ijurdened 

 with such a debt that this added crippled condition of one of her most 

 flourishing industries, was crushing. 



The whole world marveled at the rapidity of France's recuperation. 

 Enormous indemnity to Prussia was paid in a marvelously short time, 

 and it is safe to say that the discovery of the means of repairing the 

 damage done by the Phylloxera and of restoring French wine cul- 

 ture to its former prosperous condition helped greatly not only to pay 

 the enormous debt but to restore the confidence of the people, politi- 

 cally experimenting as they were with their new republican form of 

 government. 



When we consider the waste occasioned by the very great number 

 of unfounded remedial plans that were tried and the overwhelming 

 number of suggestions that came in from ignorant people, all of 

 which had to be passed upon, it becomes a question as to whether the 

 French government was wise in offering large prizes as it did for the 

 discovery of a competent remedy. One takes this view particularly 

 when he remembers how simply the whole matter was solved. 



It seems that Monsieur Laliman of Bordeaux was the first to point 

 out the resistance of the American vines to the Phylloxera in France. 

 In 1862 rooted American grape-vines had been introduced at several 

 places in Europe. The idea of grafting occurred to Monsieur Gaston 

 Bazille, President of the Society of Agriculture of Herault. In 1871 

 he succeeded in such grafting, and at the same time Planchon and 

 Lichenstein achieved success in the same effort. Riley in America 

 had pointed out the resistance of the American vines; and in 1872 

 and 1873 vines chosen by Riley were sent to France. In the latter 

 year Planchon was sent to America to study the American vines in 

 their indigenous habitat. 



From that time on, the course was plain. Gradually the old roots 

 of the Europ.ean vines were replaced by American roots upon which 

 the European vine was grafted, and French vine-culture was on the 

 high road to reestablishment. The same process was adopted in other 

 countries, and the Phylloxera scare virtually became a thing of the 

 past. 



France at least has shown herself very grateful to the Ignited 

 States for its assistance in bringing about this wonderful result. 

 Riley was decorated by the French government, and there was erected 

 at the great School of Viticulture at Montpellier a very beautiful 



