290 
“The employment of the so-called < Bouillie Bordelaise’ for pre- 
venting the vines from being attacked by mildew has become more and - 
more extensive of late, in view of the successful results obtained ; and 
many persons are of opinion that the abundance of the 1888 vintage 
was in a great measure due to the widespread use of this remedy in the 
vineyards of the Gironde. On the other hand, it must be mentioned 
that the use of the ‘ Bouillie Bordelaise,’ a mixture (as above described) 
B sulphate of copper and slaked lime, has given De to some appre- 
sions amongst the public at Bordeaux. For many persons cannot 
disposes themselves of the view that the liquid in piod C wide ch is 
sprinkled upon the leaves of the vine—must have some effect upon the 
wine Said from the latter ; and it is feared by them that not only 
may the flavour or other qualities of the wine be thereby S eur 
affected in an unfavourable manner, but that iif effects may also 
arise therefrom for the health of the consumers. The sudden illness 
shortly after the end of last year’s ee of a large number of 
drunk wine known to have been produced in vineyards ne 
Nimes, where the ‘ Bouillie Bordelaise " had Fiet employed (an tds 
which was subsequently, however, proved to haye been caused by other 
Meere. was at first ascribed in this and other parts of France to he 
ous effects of the sulphate of copper contained in the mixture m 
pnd, and this added strength to the belief as to its dangerous qualities 
if employed against mildew. Though I have already on a former 
occasion taken the opportunity of dwelling upon this subject, it may, in 
the interest of the British consumer of Bordeaux wines, be again 
observed that many and carefully made analyses made here have fully 
proved that wines made from vines sprinkled with the ‘ Bouillie Borde- 
laise’ are not injurious to health. For it has been repeatedly found 
that the quantity of copper contained in such wine does not exceed 
three-tenths of a milligramme er litre; or, in other words, a consumer 
t 2, gallons of wine produced from such vines. 
According to scientific experiments this trifling amount of copper is in 
fact not greater and probably less, than the per-centage thereof con- 
tained in some other articles of daily food which are admitted into the 
human body without injurious or unpleasant effects. How far, on the 
other hand, the use of the ‘Bouillie. Bordelaise’ may have already 
affected, or will affect, the flavour and some other qualities of the wine 
derived from vines sprinkle ed with it, is a question which to my know- 
ledge has not yet been definitely settled." 
CXI.—PHYLLOXERA IN SOUTH AFRICA. 
At the time of the International Phylloxera Congress at Bordeaux in 
October 1881 there was no evidence to prove that the n gm had 
invaded South Africa. Mr. Roland Trimen, F.R.S., F.Z.S., Director 
of the South African Mnseum, was, however, delegated as representa- 
tive of the — of the Cape to the Colony, and he reported 
upon its proc December 29, 1881. In the 25th paragraph of 
his report, poet ra fully discussed the matter with the late Pro- 
m edu, the most eminent authority on the subject at the time, 
— 
is aikai i in favour of reasonable precautionary measures, and 
I think that those which Professor Planchon recommends are fully 
