THE GRAPE VINE. II7 



vastatrix — is proving itself to be. Any who have had 

 an opportunity of watching the destructive power of 

 this tiny insect, will not be at all surprised to know 

 — especially when the enormous interest that France 

 has at stake in her vineyards is taken into considera- 

 tion — that the French Government are so alarmed 

 at its appearance that they have offered a reward of 

 £12,000 to any person who will devise a means 

 of destroying the pest, without, at the same time, de- 

 stroying the vines. But as yet no such remedy has 

 been discovered. According to the report of E. L. 

 Beckwith, Esq., on the wines of the Universal Exhibi- 

 tion at Paris in 1868, the quantity of wine manufac- 

 tured annually in France amounts to 831,000,000 

 gallons, exclusive of 165,000,000 distilled into brandy. 

 Taking this enormous sum at the very low average rate 

 of 2 s. 6d. per gallon, it can easily be understood why 

 France is so much concerned and dismayed at the pro- 

 gress of a foe which perils the very existence of her 

 vineyards, and how this army of insects threatens to 

 be a more formidable enemy, in a pecuniary sense, 

 than the squadrons of a German Emperor. It is 

 already committing alarming ravages in some of the 

 wine departments of France, and has spread into Spain, 

 Portugal, and Austria. 



About eight years ago the Phylloxera unfortunately 

 made itself known in this country, and has proved 

 fatal to the vines' in some English vineries, crossed the 

 Channel to Ireland and the Borders to Scotland. I 

 have recently heard of its fatal effects in a good many 

 of the English counties. I have no conclusive proof 

 up to this time that it exists in any place in Scotland 

 except Drumlanrig, although I have heard of the vines 

 in several places in Scotland having in some cases died 



