THE GEELOXG NATURALIST. 
27 
the two identical turkeys, whicli they had shot as expected. All 
appeared to be going along smoothly until they chanced to meet the 
local policeman, who promptly and most commendably summoned 
them to the court. They were fined £5 each, with costs, for shoot- 
ing the turkeys. The birds were confiscated, and were probably 
eaten and enjoyed by the policeman and his family. 
Many of you will no doubt recollect the serious outbreak of 
Phylloxera that years ago occurred in this district and for which 
we were then totally unprepared. Owing, however, to the prompt 
action of the Government of the day, it was quickly, and let us hope 
permanently eradicated. Now unfortunately we have to face a 
somewhat similar visitation at Bendigo, not very widely spread, let 
us hope; and as one of our greatest industries, that of wine and 
grape growing in all its branches is threatened, it behoves all of us 
whether teetotallers or otherwise, to unite and make common cause 
against this dreadful scourge of this or any other country. When 
the Phylloxera comes along, it comes to stay, as our American 
friends put it; and thus measures, however stringent they may be, 
should be adopted to check it. We know now at least something of 
the aerial as well as the root forms of this wonderful little insect, 
and this knowledge has enabled those living in the great wine pro- 
ducing districts of Europe and elsewhere to bring into use the 
various means that have been there tried for its eradication, and as 
these remarks are condensed and published in Part II of my book 
every vigneron should read the descriptions, so that many senseless 
scares about the reappearance oB Phylloxera might be avoided. 
When the great scourge of locusts took place in Africa, and later 
on in America, Cyprus and even some of our own colonies, little 
was known of their life-history, although the plague is of such 
ancient origin. Now-a-days, however, the inhabitants of these 
countries have been able, by a patient and exhaustive study of these 
insects, in many instances to have been partially successful in 
coping with what appeared to be a singularly hopeless task. It 
was found that there were two special periods at which the locusts 
could be successfully attacked. First when in the egg-stage and 
secondly in the newly hatched or "hopping" stage. The former 
is accomplished by collecting the eggs, the authorities paying the 
collectors a certain sum per bushel for the same. The second plan 
consists in driving the young locusts, which were found by observation 
to be travelling always in one direction, into screens and pits pre- 
pared for the purpose. 
When the young locusts are hatched they travel for a few days 
in a circle, and after having gained sufficient strength they commence 
their onward march in the one direction. During their march they 
eat up every living plant that they can manage to digest. They 
have a marvellous appetite, and when in the winged state will 
devastate the whole face of a country in no time. The screens as 
shown in working order, of ten extends for hundreds of miles over 
