94 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 
Port OF NEw YORK, APPRAISER’S OFFICE, 
April 10, 18383. 
Str: Respectfully referring to the inclosed communication, directing 
that a microscopic examination be made of a sample of certain vine 
clippings recently imported from the island of Madeira, I have the honor 
to report as follows: I have submitted the above sample to a microsco- 
pic-examination, and, while I have as yet been unable to detect certain 
positive indications of the presence of phylloxera, I am of the opinion, 
after comparing the clippings with others of known freedom from 
disease, that they present appearances which are at least suspicious. 
Considering the importance of this matter, I would respectfully suggest 
that the clippings under consideration be submitted for examination to 
Prof. C. V. Riley, who I believe is at present the entomologist of the 
United States Department of Agriculture, and who has devoted more 
attention to this special subject than any other American scientist. 
An investigation would require experience of a peculiar nature, and 
would involve a more complete acquaintance with the physical appear- 
ance of the healthy and diseased vine than I can make claim to. 
Respectfully, 
J. B. BATTERSHALL. 
The Hon. A. G. KETCHUM. 
; WASHINGTON, April 18, 1883. 
Sir: In reply to the letter of the Assistant Secretary of the Treas. . 
ury, with inclosures from the New York Custom-House, respecting an 
invoice of vine-cuttings from Madeira suspected of “ phylloxera disease,” 
I would submit the following: 
The samples submitted, upon examination, furnish no sign whatever 
of Phylloxera, and it is extremely doubtful whether any trace of Phyl- 
loxera could be discovered upon any of the cuttings: Ist, because Phyl- 
loxera is not known to be destructive in Madeira; and, 2d, because it 
could only be found in winter egg, which, even in countries where Phyl- 
loxera abounds, is extremely rare. Hence the chances of the introdue- 
tion of the pest upon these cuttings are so very remote as not to be 
worth considering. But, even if the cuttings came from a country 
badly infested with Phylloxera, the danger of the introduction of the 
pest upon them would be very slight, the reasons for which conelusion 
I have already discussed in the American Naturalist for March, 1881, 
and I beg leave to inclose a copy of said article, which gives in addi- 
tion a succinct statement of the life habits of the insect. 
Even were it possible to introduce the insect with these cuttings, no 
harm could result so Jong as they were sent to any part of the United 
States east of the Rocky Mountains, since the Phylloxera is indigenous 
here. On the same supposition thatthe cuttings were badly infested, 
prudence would dictate that they should not be sent to the Pacific coast, 
or those portions of it where the Phylloxera does not yet exist; but 
