S6 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 



blance to our gall-insect. This is not all, for a leaf-gall absolutely 

 identical with ours also occurs there, and the identity of the gall-in- 

 habiting with the root-inhabiting insect was demonstrated by '"J. O. 

 W.," in the Gardener's Chronicle, of England, for January 30, 1869, 

 and M. J. Lichtenstein even contended that their European species 

 was identical with ours, and imported from this country, in which 

 opinion he was supported by A. Oombe-Dalmas.* 



Of course these views expressed in Europe gave increased inter- 

 est to our own gall-louse, and I determined to make every effort to 

 decide the question of identity, together with some other questions 

 which presented themselves. To this end I opened correspondence 

 with M. V. Signoret and M. J. Lichtenstein, who were making experi- 

 ments in France while I was doing the same here. But the blighting 

 effects of the war have not only entailed untold misery and woe to 

 millions in France, but have either paralyzed or effectually balked 

 scientific investigation within her borders, so that at last accounts M. 

 Lichtenstein was in Spain, and M. Signoret shut up in Faris.f I was, 

 however, fortunate enough to receive from the latter gentleman, a 

 few clays previous to the investment of Paris, a letter stating that 

 upon examination of specimens of our gall-lice, which I had expressed 

 to him, he was convinced of their identity with the European species. 

 This was indeed satisfactory, and coupled with the fact that I have 

 discovered that our gall-insect likewise attacks the roots of our vines 

 in precisely the same manner as does the European species, and that 

 the winged specimens found in this country by Dr. Shimer agree in 

 having the characteristic dusky band around the middle of the tho- 

 rax described in the winged female of Europe, it leaves no doubt in 

 my mind that the insects of the two continents are really identical. 



As already stated, the war put a stop to investigations in France, 

 and we do not know that any effectual remedy was discovered, or that 

 the premium was disposed of. Carbolic acid, and two other sub- 

 stances, namely, sulphuret of lime dissolved in water, and an empy- 

 reumatical oil, known among veterinary surgeons by the name of "oil 

 of cade," dissolved in water, were found to be the best specifics ; but 

 neither of them have been tried on a sufficiently extensive scale, and 

 I have little faith in any medicinal remedy. 



The two parties who have written most upon the disease, namely, 

 Mr. Signoret and M. Lichtenstein, took entirely opposite grounds as 

 to its cause. The former claimed that it had a botanical rather than 

 an entomological cause, that it was principally due to drouth, bad 

 culture and poor soil, and that the Phylloxera was therefore inci- 

 dental ; and acting upon this view, suggested that water, with manure 



* Inscctologie Agricole, 18G9, p. 1S9. 



f Since the above was written, I have heard from M. Signoret through M. Lichtenstein. 

 Nothing daunted by thesiege, the former carried cm his studies of this little louse, ana wrote by 

 balloon, thai though he himself was reduced to cats, dogs and horse-flesh, the Phylloxera, which 

 he had in boxes, kept well and in good health. No doubt our enthusiastic friend finds much solace 

 in thus pursuing knowledge under difficulties. 



