405 



MoKRZECKi (S. A.)- OMJiJioKcepa, en wmshb no HOBbiin, Macntfloea- 

 HJflM'b, Mtpbi 6opb6bi Cb Heto M cnoco6bi AesMHctieKL^iM no caA04- 

 Haro MaTepia/ia. [P/n/lloxera, its life history according to new 

 investigations, remedies against it and the disinfection of the 

 vine-stock.] Published by the Taurida-Ekaterinoslav Committee 

 of Viticulture and Wine-making, Simferopol, 1915, 97 pp. 3 figs., 

 5 plates. 



This is a short review of the history of the importation of, and the 

 campaign against Phylloxera in Russia. It was first introduced into 

 Russia between the years 1870-1875 by stocks from Erfurt, impoi"ted 

 more or less simultaneously into the Crimea, Caucasia, Transcaucasia 

 and Bessarabia. The first attacks on vineyards by Phylloxera were 

 observed in 1880 in the Crimea, but after a campaign lasting 16 years 

 and consisting of the destruction of the pest by injecting carbon- 

 bisulphide or Crolas mixture (carbon bisulphide and kerosene) and by 

 watering the surface with a solution of KaS;^, followed by digging 

 up and burning the plants, that country was finally freed in 1896. 

 The following eight vine-growing provinces of Russia : — Astrachan, 

 Tchernoie-More, Terek, Dagestan, Elisavetpol, Erivan, Kars and 

 Turkestan, are free from this pest, but of a total of 675,000 acres of 

 vineyards in Russia, 378,000 are infested with Phylloxera. The life- 

 history of Phylloxera, according to American authors and to the latest 

 investigations of B. Grassi, Grandori and A. Foa, is described. On 

 American varieties of vine, the cycle is a two-yearly one and both the 

 sexuparae and the hibernating eggs are present, while on the European 

 varieties the sexuparae and hibernating eggs are absent, the winged 

 individuals being less numerous and the parthenogenesis of the root 

 forms lasting indefinitely. Enemies of Phylloxera mentioned, are : — 

 The larvae of the Coccinellid, PuHus {Scymnus) haemorrhoidalis, 

 which, in Sicily, destroys the eggs and young larvae in the galls, while 

 the imagines prey upon the leaf form ; Coccinella decempundata 

 and other species ; Chrysopa perla ; C. vulgaris ; Phaneroptera 

 quadripunctata ; Tromhidium holosericeuni, the importance of which 

 is, however, not great. Drepanothrips reuteri is found on leaves of 

 vine, although it is not yet established whether it attacks Phylloxera. 

 Some predaceous mites have been observed to attack the root form. 

 In a supplement, the Russian law relating to the control of Phylloxera 

 and regulating the importation of stocks from abroad is given. An 

 estimate for the construction of a concrete fumigating chamber is 

 also given, the total cost being £42 to £43. 



Beck (E.). Home Correspondence: Winter Spraying. — Gardeners' 

 Chron., London, Ivii, 6th March 1915, p. 127. 



The opinion is expressed that the annual use of alkali wash is 

 injurious to fruit trees, more especially to old ones. The writer ad\ases 

 that the wash be applied once in every three years, and in mid-winter, 

 not in the spring. The importance of cleansing the old wood is 

 emphasised ; loose bark should be removed, every piece of decayed 

 wood and trace of canker cut away, and the wounds dressed with gas 

 tar. The stems should be scrubbed thoroughly with strong soft soap 

 and water. 



