168 | THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 
The question arises, how did the PAy/oxera first reach Portugal? It 
seems to me that there are only two likely means of conveyance in this 
instance. It must have got there, either in the egg or larval state, on 
canes imported from abroad. Or if such has not been the case, I presume 
winged gravid females have been carried from the infected districts of 
France into the vineyards of the Alto Douro; or perhaps the last-named 
locality has served as starting place for the French “Vignobles,” after the 
presumed arrival of the insect from America. 
. England, France, and Portugal are now infested ; how long Spain will 
remain free from the plague no one can say. Lately the Phylloxera has 
made its first appearance in Switzerland, in the cantons of Argovie, 
Schaffhousen, Zurich, and Thurgovie; and there can be now but little 
hope that the Rhine and the Moselle districts will escape much longer. 
The fact of the matter is, that even leaving Nature’s own operations 
out of the question, the trade and exchange of choice varieties of hothouse 
Vines and hardy seedlings are now so extensive, that man is the real 
carrier of the pest. 
Is it asking too much to call for international co-operation in the 
checking of the plague, universal as it is sure to become? One would 
think that the threatened destruction of wine-growing all over Europe and 
America is an evil, not only to the nations concerned, but of universal 
consequence. Governments there are which are enlightened enough to 
offer enormous prices for a sure remedy to destroy the insects ; but why 
not fight the enemy a@é ovo, by strictly ascertaining and confining its 
depredations to its present centres of dispersal and eradicating it there ? 
Much might be done by stopping the distribution of canes and seedlings 
from countries at present occupied by the Phyloxera. 
If some such measure were adopted on international grounds by all 
countries concerned, one fruitful source of propagation would be closed 
up. Local energy might then be applied to the task of overseeing the 
districts attacked, and doing battle with unforseen arrivals in fresh 
localities. 
Means have been found effectually to stop the importation of domestic 
animals affected by certain diseases. Surely rules could be devised to 
bar the distribution of cultivated plants when found to be accompanied 
by their insect foes. 
It is the plain interest of the viticulturist, as well as that of the public, 
to agitate until protective international measures are taken in this grave 
