﻿OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 105- 



the importance of having the problem studied and elucidated, com- 

 missioned Max. Cornu to make the proper investigations, the result 

 of which was to prove that the only way in which the insect passed 

 the Jura and reached Pregny without leaving its tracks on the way^ 

 was by rail, and carefully packed in boxes. In fact it was traced to 

 a grapery belonging to Baron Rothschild, in which were cultivated a 

 number of varieties, and, among others, some obtained from an Eng- 

 lish grapery, and received as young plants in pots. The insect ha& 

 for many years existed in graperies in England and Ireland, and the 

 particular vines in question were found to be badly infested. All the 

 infested vines have been condemned to destruction by the Swiss Gov- 

 ernment. 



The insect has, also, recently been found in small quantities on 

 American vines at Bonn, in Prussia, and the German Government ha& 

 prohibited the importation of American vines. "^^ 



DIRECT BEMEDIES . 



There is little to add to what was said on this subject in my last 

 report. Very elaborate experiments have been carried on in France 

 and as elaborately recorded; yet the fact remains that, as we have- 

 already seen, submersion, from the practical standpoint, is the only 

 remedy which is being extensively employed. The use of sand, espe- 

 cially when mixed with cinders and guano is highly spoken of, and 

 the methods of invigorating the vine by fertilizers rich in potassic 

 salts continue to gain in favor. M. Mouillefert, who has experimented 

 at Cognac with sulpho-carbonate of potassium — generating and con- 

 veying it in different ways — and M. Balbiani, who has persevered at 

 Montpellier in the use of coal tar, have proved that both these sub- 

 stances may be employed with good effect to destroy the Phylloxera; 

 but it remains to be seen whether their methods will fulfill the require- 

 ments by coming into general use. The sulpho-carbonate, which was 

 employed at the suggestion of M. Dumas, is placed at the rate of four 

 ounces in a hole at the foot of a vine. By decomposition the sulphuret 

 of carbon, spoken of last year, is generated and kills the lice without 



* Since this was written, I have received the following note from Dr. G. Blankenhorn, of Carlsruhe^ 

 referring to the discovery of the insect in other localities : 



Your excellent work on the Phylloxera I have copied ui my ' ' Annalen der ffinologie, ' ' and it has- 

 done much to help us in Germany to understand this insect. The subject gi'ows more and more impor- 

 tant for us Germans since our viticulture is threatened. You probably have already read that it has 

 been discovered during the last few weeks in three different localities in Germany, (in Annaberg, by. 

 Kornike and Kreusler; in Carlsruhe, by myself and D. Moritz, and in Worms), and without exception 

 only upon American grape-vines. ' ' 



