156 ; 



Scheie Aux (E.). La Resistance des Semences t la Chaleur et la 

 Destruction des Insectes. [The resis ance of seeds to heat and 

 the destruction of insects.] — Bull. Soc. Nat. Acdimat.. Paris, 

 kiii, no. 2, February 1916, pp. 63-64. 



Investigations carried out by the author in collaboration with 

 M.M. Bussard and Etienne have shown that insects infesting seeds are 

 easily killed by heat without any resulting injury to the seeds. Weevils 

 are destroyed in two minutes by a temperature of 122° F., and Bruchus- 

 spp. at 140° F, Cereals, except maize, can withstand a temperature 

 of 212° F. for an hour without their germinating power being affected. 



Grassi (B.). Modern Views of the Control of the Vine Phylloxera. — 

 Mthly. Bull. Agric. Intell. Plant Dis., Rome, vi, no. 12, December 

 1915, pp. 1553-1571. [Received 1st March 1916.] 



Methods for the control of Phylloxera may be classed under three 

 heads : — (1) prevention or diminution of the spread of the insect ; 

 (2) the use of insecticides, especially carbon bisulphide, and flooding ; (3) 

 cultural measures, enabling the vine to live in infested localities, e.g., 

 planting in sand or grafting European vines on American stocks. 



The spread of this pest in Apulia and Sicily has been extremely 

 rapid, whereas in other parts of Italy, such as the Abruzzi, Umbria and 

 portions of Tuscany, the progress of infection has been very slow. 

 The results of a campaign against the pest in the first two districts, 

 have been most successful, while in the last three all efforts have been, 

 practically useless. These facts have led in some cases to a denial of 

 the efficacy of the control measures adopted. In spite of adverse 

 results and criticisms, the author maintains the opinion that the 

 campaign against Phylloxera should on no account be abandoned. 

 Certain data are given which show that defensive and constructive 

 measures are capable of being adopted with success. In the Canton 

 de Vaud, which is given as an example, the discontinuance of such 

 measures would mean the complete destruction of all the European 

 vines in that district. Although its protection has cost more than 

 £160,000, the present gross return of £26 3s. 6d. per acre, a sum far 

 superior to the returns from Italian vineyards, has justified this 

 expenditure. If the campaign were carried out on a similar scale in. 

 Italy, the cost would be not less than five millions annually, but the 

 advantages which would accrue would be such as to encourage the 

 employment of an even larger capital. 



The following conclusions have been reached by Prof, de Benedetti as. 

 the result of his campaign against Phylloxera at Ohva Gessi (territory of 

 Voghera) between 1912 and the present time : — (1) defence is useful 

 both at the outset and in advanced stages of infection ; (2) recon- 

 stitution should be prepared, conducted and completed in such a way 

 as to obtain a sufficient quantity of grapes to cover the interests of 

 both proprietor and cultivator ; (3) defence and reconstitution carried 

 out on these lines allow of the slow conversion of part of the land 

 under vines into land producing cheaper crops. Vines would only be 

 allowed to occupy that particular land in which local or special 

 conditions ensure a less uncertain industrial profit than the one hitherto- 

 obtaining. 



