408 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



The oggs from the winged females are most often laid in or on the ground near the 

 base of the vine, and they are so delicate as to require especially favorable condi- 

 tions of temperature and moisture to enable them to hatch. They must, in my judg- 

 ment, infallibly perish when deposited on anything else than the lower surface of the 

 living grape-leaf where they can receive moisture by endosmosis, or in crevices in 

 earth that is kept moderately moist by raiu or dew. But even supposing that these 

 eggs could hatch, and the resulting female should lay her impregnated egg on any 

 other living plant than grape, and that this egg should give birth in due time to the 

 stem-mother, she would inevitably perish without issue for want of suitable food. 

 With the utmost care to supply the natural conditions, I have failed nine times out 

 of ten to obtain even the sexual individuals, and it is much more difficult to get the 

 impregnated egg. European observers have had the same experience. From this it 

 follows that the introduction of Phylloxera upon any other plant than the grape- 

 vine, at any season of the year, is impossible, and hence the folly of the prohibit ion. 



As to the possibility of its introduction upon grape-vines themselves, however, there 

 can be no doubt. The insect can be carried on" the roots of vines in the winter either 

 in the dormant larva state or in the "winter-egg" state, and in this latter state it 

 may occur upon almost any part of the plant above ground, more particularly under 

 the loose bark of the two-year-old canes, although recent observations have'proven 

 that whenever it occurs above ground it is produced rather from the gall-inhabiting 

 type than from the more dangerous root form. Therefore the clause which prohibits 

 the introduction of cuttings with or without roots into districts where the Phylloxera 

 absolutely does not exist, is fully justified by the facts. It maybe well to state, how- 

 ever, that in districts where the Phylloxera exists no better preventive can be adopted 

 than the introduction of the hardy and resisting American vines as stocks upon which 

 to graft the more susceptible European varieties. 



It should also be urged in this connection that, while the decree is justified in so far 

 as it prohibits the actual introduction of vines and cuttings, there can be no danger 

 from the mere passage through a non-infested country of such vines. These are neces- 

 sarily boxed, and can only be properly and safely shipped during the cold or non- 

 growing season when the egg is dormant ; so that there is a practical impossibility in 

 the introduction of the insect by such a passage. 



While I am rather in the dark as to the nature of the original complaint (as no copy 

 accompanied the papers received from the State Department), the United States can 

 safely and with great justice urge upon Germany the reversal of that portion of the 

 decree which does not apply to grape-vines proper. 

 Respectfully, 



C. V. RILEY, 



Entomologist. 



Hon. George B. Loring, 



Commissioner of Agriculture. 



THE GRAPE PHYLLOXERA IN GRAPERIES-LEGAL QUESTIONS ARISING. 



Bureau op Entomology, 



Washington, November 5, 1884. 



Dear Sir : In making to you a final report of my conclusions in reference to the 

 diseased condition of certain European grape-vines furnished by you last spring to 

 Mr. Charles J. Osborn, of Mamaroneck, Westchester County, New York, and as to 

 whether the Grape Phylloxera (Phylloxera vastatrix) had anything to do with such 

 diseased condition, it becomes necessary that I summarize the points made in yoar 

 various inquiries sent to this Department since the 1st of July last, and particu- 

 larly those made since my return from Europe. The following facts become manifest 

 from a review of this correspondence : 



1st. The plants were obtained by you from the well-known firms of Ellwanger & 

 Barry, of Rochester, and Hoopes Bro. & Thomas, of Cherry Hill Nurseries, West 

 Chester, Pa., and shipped direct to where they were planted. They were grown in 

 pots in the usual way, and they were planted in the btrders of a new grapery the 

 latter part of last February. They were strong two-year-old plants, to all appear- 

 ance in splendid condition, made up of leading exotic varieties, Black Hamburgs, 

 &c. The borders, from all reports, were carefully prepared last autumn and winter, 

 the materials used being old rotted sod made into compost, with the usual proportion 

 of bone-dust. 



2d. About the middle of June, after the vines had made several feet of healthy 

 growth, the lower leaf-stalks hegan to weaken, allowing the two or three basal leaves 

 from the main shoot to droop. From the time that the vines showed a failing the 

 cause seems to have been earnestly sought for, and the question as to whether it was 

 due to Phylloxera injury raised. Finally, during July and August all parts of the 



