dOO 



Marsala Winp:. 



has been equally marked, the numbers being 46 in 1881, 

 170 in 1 89 1, and 559 in 1897. The exports of butter have 

 fluctuated considerably; in 1880 the amount sent out of the 

 country was 165,500 cwts,; in the subsequent ten years there 

 was a great decline, the export in 1890 being only 17,400 

 cwts., buc in 1897 102,000 cwts. were exported. 



Information has been received through the Foreign Office 

 that the vintage in Marsala has this year 



Marsala Wine, proved unsatisfactory, owing to want 

 of rain, and damage by the scirocco. It 

 is stated also that the phylloxera has appeared in the district 

 since tlie beginning of last year, and has made rapid progress, 

 so that the Marsala wine trade is seriously threatened. 

 American vines are being largely planted, and small 

 quantities of these are being supplied by the Government 

 free of charge, in the hope of forming nursery stocks for a 

 future supply of cuttings. A society has also been formed 

 with the object of encouraging the culture of American vines, 

 and of studying the soil and other conditions so as to 

 ascertain which varieties are best suited to the district. 



Information has been received through the Colonial Office 



„ . „ that an Act has been passed in Tasmania 



Tasmanian Vege- . . ^ . 



tation Diseases to prevent introduction of diseases, insects. 

 Act 



fungi, and other pests affecting vegeta- 

 tion. The Act prohibits the importation into Tasmania 

 of any insect or fungus, except for scientific purposes, and 

 with the consent of the Minister of Agriculture. The 

 Governor is empowered to forbid, by proclamation, the impor- 

 tation of plants likely to introduce diseases of vegetation. 



The Board hav^e received information through the Foreign 



„ Office that a law has been passed in 

 Importation of ^ , . . . , . , . 



Plants into Bulgaria prohibiting the introduction 01 



Bulgaria. vines and parts thereof from countries 



infected with phylloxera (but permitting the importation of 



other plants), and authorising the Bulgarian Government to 



join the International Phylloxera Convention. 



