478 



Grassi (B.). La Lotta contro la Fillossera nel Teramano dal 1901 al 



1916. |The Campaign against Phylloxera in the Province of 

 Teramo from 1901 to 1916.] — Boll. Minister i Agric, Industria, 

 Comm., Lavoro, Rome, Year XV, ii, Ser. B, no. 9-12, September- 

 December 1916, pp. 69-135, 11 figs., 3 maps. [Received 

 30th August 1918.] 



Except where the altitude is over about 2,000 feet the vine is grown 

 everywhere in the province of Teramo (Abruzzi), the value of the grapes 

 obtained being over £1,000,000. Phylloxera was probably introduced 

 about 1890 and a Government campaign was conducted against it 

 from 1901 to 1916. From 1901 to 1903 no less than 90,000 infested 

 stocks were destroyed, as well as 250,000 healthy ones growing near 

 them. The so-called classic or complete method of destruction was 

 adopted without modification mitil 1906, when changes were introduced 

 with a view to saving expense. In the classic method the stock is 

 cut off about 4 inches above ground and burnt ; the stump is split 

 down to the ground and drenched with tar or other insecticides ; 

 each square metre of ground is treated with 4 injections of 75-80 

 grms. each of carbon bisulphide apphed at intervals of 3 days, and 

 if thought necessary, the ground is stamped down to ensure the 

 destruction of the stocks ; finally the ground is dug up and the stock 

 is removed with all its roots and burnt on the spot. 



Of 80 large foci of infestation found in the first three years 78 are 

 now clean or nearly so. As these areas are surrounded by a large 

 expanse of vineyards that have remained quite immune, it may be 

 assumed that the method described above has been successful. 



Work on a modified and less efficient plan was continued up to 

 1916. If it is to be further continued, radical changes will be necessary 

 to ensure^ real efficiency. 



CoLLTNGE (W. E.). The Value of Insectivorous Birds. -Nature, London. 

 ci, no. 2543, 25th July 1918, pp. 407-409. 



In the British Isles there are only a few species of wild birds that 

 are truly insectivorous in their habits. A great redaction in their 

 numbers has recently been brought about, partly by the severe winters 

 of 1916-17 and 1917-18, and partly by the uniform protection of 

 every species of wdld bird, with the result that the loss occasioned 

 by some of these has led to a ruthless war on all species. This state 

 of affairs can only result in the loss of crops and a diminution in the 

 supply of home-grown food. 



Of the 280 species of British birds, other than those that are aquatic 

 or littoral in their habits and game birds, rather less than 100 species 

 are insectivorous, and many of these are quite rare. 



Beneficial birds include the fieldfare, water ouzel, wheatear, whinchat, 

 stonechat, redstart, robin, warblers and A\Tens (other than the white- 

 throat and blackcap), hedge accentor, dipper, tits, wagtails, pipits, 

 flycatchers, swallow, martins, tree-creeper, and finches, other than 

 the greenfinch, chaffinch, house-sparrow and bullfinch, the last two 

 being wholly injurious. None of the buntings are injurious, and all 

 the larks do far more good than harm, while the swift, nightjar, wood- 

 peckers, WT}iieck. kingfisher, cuckoo, and owls are all most beneficial. 



