lB87.]Mr. Feringuey, a Note on the Phylloxera Vastatricc, 8fc. 57 

 A NOTE ON THE PHYLLOXERA VASTATRIXKH THE CAPE 



L. Peringtjey, F.E.S. ; F.Z.S., Assistant Curator Soutli-African 



Museum. 



August, 1887. 



On tlie 6tli January, 1886, it was officially ascertained that the 

 dreaded Phylloxera Vastatrix was at work in some vineyards in the 

 neighbourhood of Cape Town, and a few days later a largely infected 

 centre was found also at Moddergat, in the district of Stellenbosch. 

 The contaminated area was covering some 50 hectares =125 acres. 



A special Commission, consisting of Messrs. R. Trimen, F.E.S., 

 Curator of the South African Museum, Professor MacOwan, F.L.S., 

 Director of the Botanic Glardens, and myself, was appointed by the Gov- 

 ernment of the Colony in order to ascertain by personal inspection of the 

 vineyards the extent and importance of the phylloxerised centres, and 

 to advise the Government on the measures to be taken against any 

 further spreading of the insect-pest. 



Having been since appointed Inspector of Vineyards, I have been 

 able to carry a series of technical observations, which I embody here, 

 having culled them from the official reports made to the Government. 

 The result of these observations, differing in many points from those 

 made in Europe, may be found to be useful later on if the insects 

 were spreading. 



THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHYLLOXERA AT THE CAPE. SUBTERRANEAN 



FORM. 



The necessity of ascertaining the time at which the exodus of the 

 female insect takes place, and also if there was or was not a season 

 of hibernation, was very great, since on those observations depended 

 the greater or lesser efficacy of the measures taken against the spread 

 of phylloxera. 



For that purpose several vines were planted in large boxes, fixed so 

 as to allow of ready access to the roots, and capped with large glass 

 cases. I operated mainly on 9 vines : — 



1 to 6 — 6 Cape varieties of '' Vitis mniferaP 

 7 to 8 — 2 American vines, '' Vitis mstivalis'^ 

 9 — 1 wild vine, '^ Cissus ca^ensis.'^' 



The object in view was to ascertain : — Firstly, whether the multi- 

 plication or evolution of the insect was checked either by cold or 

 extreme heat ; and secondly at what time of the year the winged 

 female came out of the ground. 



Dr. Cornu has established with certainty that in France a tempera- 

 ture of about 10° C. (or 49° Fahr.) causes the phylloxera to hibernate, 

 that is to say, under that climatic influence the gravid female dies, 

 and the young — the insect before it has shed its first skin — becomes 

 motionless, shrivels up, and may be said to be dormant. No harm is 

 done to the vine at that period, middle of October to middle of 

 November; as soon, however, as the temperature rises above 49° 

 Fahr. a general awakening takes place, and the insect begins its 

 course of destruction. This period of renewal of activity may be said 

 to begin in May in the south of France, and towards the end of it in 



