380 



the insect sent you was captured, and strange to state, while anchored there another 

 of the same kind of insect came on board. It could be approached near enough to see 

 that it was the same kind of insect, but it eluded every effort to capture it, and 

 finally flew away across the sea. No other insect of that or any other kind had been 

 seen anywhere in the Gulf, and it was rather strange that the only two seen should 

 have been at the same spot, in the center of the Gulf of Mexico, and at an interval of 

 twenty days. 



A NEW APPLE PEST. 



At a recent meeting of the agricultural bureau of this colony the 

 secretary reported that he had noticed that many of the apples, in a 

 shipment of ten thousand cases from California to Sydney, were per- 

 forated and tunnelled as though they had been attacked by the larvse 

 of the Codlin Moth. He had forwarded some of these to Mr. Frazer S. 

 Crawford, as the matter was urgent, and the following report had been 

 sent on by him to the commissioner of crown lands: 



I have received from the secretary of the central agricultural bureau an apple 

 stated to be one of a large importation from California, and which was supposed to 

 be attacked by the codlin moth. On examination I found a number of small chan- 

 nels running through it in various directions, of an average diameter of about one- 

 twentieth of an inch, in some places filled up with fine excreta. From these I ex- 

 tracted seven footless grubs, the largest about one-tenth of an inch long by rather 

 more than half that in width. They are white, or else of a pale rose color, and have 

 a white head. They are evidently the grub of a beetle ; but of what species I am 

 unable to say, as nomentionof such an insect attacking the apple is made in any Eng- 

 lish or American work that I have got. I believe it to be a new pest to California, 

 or only one that has only appeared there within the last year or two. If introduced 

 here, I consider it likely to be as destructive as the codlin moth, and one equally as 

 difficult to eradicate I therefore respectfully suggest that every endeavor should be 

 made to trace this shipment of apples, and if possible that all found in the colony 

 should be destroyed, and, furthermore, I wish to point out the advisableness of the 

 other colonies being communicated with in order that the damage of the sljipment 

 may be pointed out. 



Melbourne. 



(Melbourne correspondence Mark Lane Express, February 17, 1890.) 



AMERICAN VINES IN FRANCE AND THE PHYLLOXERA. 



The gratifying showing of the rapid increase in the acreage of recon- 

 stituted vineyards in France, mostly by the use of American stocks, 

 given in the last number of Insect Life in the article entitled " The 

 Phylloxera Problem Abroad, etc.," hardly leads one to expect the ad- 

 verse report on the use of American vines given in the Wine Trade Re- 

 view of February 15, 1890, and quoted in the Cape Colony Agricultural 

 Journal of February 20. 



The quotation is as follows : 



An important movement is taking place in the department of Seine-et-Marne, in 

 regard to the introduction of American c6pages into the vineyards. Many people in 

 France and other countries have been inclined to regard the grafting of French vines 

 on American as one of the most certain methods of arresting the progress of the phyl- 

 loxera ; but it is clear that a different opinion is held in the Champa'gne country. 

 The prefect of the Marne department last month directed that an inquiry should be 



