462 Foreign Notices : — France. 



Summary of Subjects proposed for Prizes hy the Agricultural Society of France 

 at their Meeting in July, 1837. — §i. To b e decided in 1838. For the introduc- 

 tion of organised and mineral manures. For the translation of useful works 

 on agriculture, written in foreign languages. For biographical notices of per- 

 sons who have rendered benefits to agriculture. For works, essays, or practical 

 observations relative to veterinary surgery. For essays on practical irriga- 

 tion, and information respecting the statistics of irrigation in France. For 

 information respecting the cultivation of apples and pears for perry and 

 cider, in France. For an essay on the uses which may be made of the dead 

 bodies of animals, killed by accident, or which have died of diseases in the 

 field. For a hand threshing-machine, which, without breaking the straw 

 more than the flail, shall separate the corn and winnow it with the greatest 

 economy. For the best method of forming Artesian wells. For a rasp for 

 preparing potatoes for making flour and starch. For a system of a rotation 

 of crops without a fallow. For plantations of mulberries, and for rearing silk- 

 worms, in those departments of France into which they have not yet been 

 introduced. For the extraction of sugar from the beet-root, in small esta- 

 blishments. For the discovery of a simple method, which might be practised 

 by small cultivators, for preserving corn from insects ; for stopping the ravages 

 of insects when the corn is already attacked ; and for good observations on 

 the natural history of the insects which attack corn. For the draining of 

 wet clayey soils. For the composition of elementary woi'ks on agriculture, 

 for the use of children in the national schools. 



^ ii. To be decided in 1839. For the imitating, in France, of the best 

 Dutch, Cheshire, and Parmesan cheeses. For the best method of prevent- 

 ing or curing the diseases of silkworms. For observations, founded on ex- 

 perience, on the best method of harnessing oxen. 



§ iii. To be decided in 1845. For plantations of cork trees on sandy or 

 bad soil, in the south of France, made before the end of 1838. 



§ iv. To be decided in 1848. For the propagation of good kinds of fruit 

 trees by seeds. 



^ v. To be decided in 1850. For plantations of any of the three follow- 

 ing kinds of oak, all of which may be employed in dyeing : — 1. Quercus tinc- 

 toria, the quercitron, or yellow oak, a native of North America (see Arb. 

 Brit., p. 1884.) 2. Q. infectoria, the gall-nut oak, a native of Asia Minor (see 

 ^r6. jB/7^., p. 1928.); and, 3. Q. ^'gilops, the Valonia oak, indigenous in 

 Greece. (See Arb. Brit., p. 1861.) 



Insects destructive to the Vine. — The mayor of the commune of Argenteuil 

 has written to the Academy of Sciences on the subject of an insect which, 

 for many years, has devastated the vines in that commune. This insect, or 

 maggot, was observed in the year 1 783, and disappeared some years after- 

 wards. Twenty-four years later, it reappeared, and caused like ravages during 

 from six to ten years. It has recently returned, and increased so fast, that at 

 present it occupies about three fifths of this territory, leaving complete deso- 

 lation behind it. This insect, after having gnawed the leaves, and injured 

 many of the grapes, envelopes itself in one of the leaves, and there under- 

 goes its metamorphosis. The damage done by it this year cannot be estimated 

 at less than from 500 to 600 francs. The larva changes into a moth in July, 

 and deposits its eggs on the vines in September, which come forth in the May 

 of the following year. MM. Dumeril and A. Saint Hilaire, being appointed 

 by the Academy to verify the damages stated in the letter of the mayor of 

 Argenteuil, visited this locality, and have made a report of their examination. 

 For a considerable space, they saw all the vines stripped of their leaves, and 

 dried up. The greater part of this destruction is caused by a well-known 

 Pyralis, which, in the caterpillar state, rolls up and twists the leaves, and 

 causes them to wither. M. Dumeril placed before the Academy this insect 

 in the state of larva, chrysalis, and moth, as well as the eggs : but two other 

 insects have also attacked the grapes, and contributed to the destruction of 

 the vine in this place. {U E'cho du Monde Savant, Aug. 2.' 1837.) 



Acclimatising Plants at Hieres,in the South of France. — M. Rantonnet, hor- 



