NEW VINE SCOURGE. 3()9 
of Orange, one of the most severely visited localities 
on the left bank of the Rhone, had already lost during 
the last year 3,600 hectares (8,895 acres) of vines out 
of the 10,880 (2G,884 acres) which it formerly 
possessed. The department of Basse Alpes, hitherto 
unattacked, is beginning to be infected. 
On the right bank of the Rhone the progress of 
the disease has not been so rapid. The department of 
Gard has, however, been attacked in a great many 
quarters. The Ardeche has diseased vines, and 
L'He'rault already shows the early symptoms of the 
malady. The progress of the disease in the Bordeaux 
district, where it appeared some years ago, has been 
slower than in the valley of the Rhone. 
The most characteristic external feature of the new 
disease, and that which has been mostly noticed 
by all observers, is the existence, in all recently affected 
spots, of a centre of attack which extends itself with- 
out intermission. The vines contiguous to the first 
seat of infection shed their leaves, and grow yellower 
and yellower until they become completely dried up. 
When the vineyard attacked is a large one and the 
disease sufficiently active, instead of one centre of 
infection there are several. From these facts it has 
been generally inferred that the disease is propagated 
m two ways— progressively and intermittently. The 
gradual extension of the various centres of attack, of 
which we have just spoken, reveals the first mode of 
propagation; their existence simultaneously at several 
isolated points is proof of the second. Experience has 
also taught us that the new vine disease progresses by 
irregular bounds, often appearing suddenly at great 
distances from the already ascertained centres of infec 
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