Plant-Diseases and Insects. 



in 



lows the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, where the vine- 

 yards are situated upon the high mountains of Alpujarra, the 

 course of the scourge can be seen extending into the province 

 of Almeria, and also menacing Murcia, the borders of which 

 are already in contact with the completely infested province 

 of Alicante. 



"In f886 the phylloxera was allowed to reach the hills of 

 Barcelona, where the border of this province joins that of 

 Gerona. In 1887 and 1888 the disease reached the confines of pk y e lloxera 

 Tarragona, which was already attacked. The insect followed in Europe, 

 the direction of the prevailing wind, which was from east to 

 west, and to-day has reached the province of Saragossa, 

 where large portions of extensive vineyards are already af- 

 fected. In conclusion, it may be said that all cf Catalonia 

 has been infested, or is about to be so. In the single province 

 of Gerona it is estimated that 26,516 hectares* have been 

 ruined, and 439 in Tarragona. This makes about 30,000 hec- 

 tares of this region entirely unproductive. And still the dis- 

 ease will spread, in spite of the precautions which may be 

 taken. 



" In 1888 the vast zone comprising the provinces of Sala- 

 manca, Zamora, Leon, Orense, and Pontevedra, had suffered 

 but little. To-day all this district is infested, Orense particu- 

 larly. This province was attacked from Tras os Montes, on 

 the frontier of Portugal. 



"According to official Spanish statistics, about 137,332 hec- 

 tares are infested in Spain, and the decrease in wine produc- 

 tion is estimated at over two million hectolitres, f valued at 

 about 31 million francs. 



"Portugal. The phylloxera is probably advancing more 

 rapidly and doing more damage in the vineyards of Portugal 

 than anywhere else in Europe. Especially in the northern 

 part of the country, the ravages of the insect are almost in- 

 credible. The inspector affirms that it will not be long before 

 every vine will be diseased. Out of 151 communes, 91 are in- 

 fested, and these are just the ones in which the richest and most 

 profitable vineyards are situated. In northern Portugal, and 

 in eleven districts, 100,000 hectares have been invaded, and 

 upon 36,000 of these the vineyards have been entirely de- 



* A hectare is 2.47 acres. 

 tA hectolitre is 2^.4 gallons. 



