185 



Mr. Washbarn, from the fact that it has been noticed that hops 

 were sometimes not so much affected in the immediate vicinity of plum 

 trees as some distance away, and from the further fact that some of the 

 growers reported that they never saw the insect on the Plum, indicates 

 that there must be a different state of affairs in Oregon, so far as the 

 life-cycle of the insect is concerned, from that which prevails in the 

 Eastern States and in Europe. Absolute and experimental proof of 

 facts obtained after long and persistent investigation should never be 

 lightly questioned. It is by no means an uncommon experience that 

 hop plants in the immediate vicinity of plum trees are not more affected 

 than, or as much as, others at a distance, and this may depend on the 

 direction of the wind or on local circumstances, or on the variety of 

 plum, whether wild or cultivated. I have examined in vain certain 

 cultivated plum trees for evidence of Phorodon, whereas I have invari- 

 ably found it upon other varieties in the same vicinity. Phorodon 

 humuUj in common with all other Aphidids, preferably chooses, when 

 migrating, certain genial days, and often fills the air, flying great dis- 

 tances. In perfectly calm weather the migrants settle almost ever^'- 

 where, bat they are easily affected by the least breeze and are wafted 

 in different directions. The invasion of a hop-yard may be from plum 

 trees miles away to windward, and we may depend upon it that the 

 species will migrate to and from Pruuus in the Northwest as it does in 

 the East. 



PHYLLOXEEA. 



The Grape Phylloxera has continued to attract the attention not 

 only of most European Governments but also of those ot Australia and 

 Xew Zealand. It continues its spread in France, having at last invaded 

 the more valuable champagne districts. The last report of the Superior 

 Phylloxera Commission of that country shows that about 240,000 acres 

 have undergone defensive measures, submersion being employed in 

 72,000, bisulphide of carbon in 145,000, and sulphocarbonate of potas- 

 sium in 23,000. The work is practically at an end in such Departments 

 as Herault, Gard, and Gironde, where the American resistant vines have 

 most effectually been used; while the wine growers of Algeria, Spain, 

 Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Austria, and Switzerland are all battling 

 against it, and are all more or less aided by their respective govern- 

 ments. 



The advent of the insect in New Zealand has been the cause of much 

 writing and of much legislation there, and the government has been 

 quite anxious to get the best and latest information on the subject. 

 There is very little that is available in the way of published experience 

 in this country, as my Missouri reports are now^ very difficult to obtain. 

 I would repeat here in substance what I have recently written to Mr. 

 F. D. Bell, agent-general at London for New Zealand, because the de- 

 mand for the information is continuous, and our own people are, to a 

 great extent, unfamiliar with the facts. 



