Hawke's Bay Herald. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1889. THE PHYLLOXERA IN NEW ZEALAND.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8526, 22 November 1889, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1889. THE PHYLLOXERA IN NEW ZEALAND.

When, a few days ago, we ware informed by an Auckland telegram that the dreaded vine pest, phylloxera vastalrix, had rriade its appearance in a vinery there, we hoped fchat fuller investigation would prove the alarm to be a ialse one. Some ten years ago, when the phylloxera was devastating the vineyards of France, and when it made its appearance in Victoria, there were several announcements of ito discovery in New Zealand, but careful exa«i_ation showed that what was killing the vines here was tho oidium I'licketii, a fungoid growth much more amenable to remedial treatment. The phylloxera is an insect pest, which attacks the roots of the vines, and is most difiicult to cope with owing to the sniallness of the insect, which is about the thirtieth part ot an inch in length, and a fiftieth of an inch broad. At maturity it is a winged iilsecti which does little, or no harm except in reproducing its species, the damage beine done hy the immature insect> which feedon the roots of the vines &__ punctures them in every airection.speedilykillingtbe P'Smis. Some four or five years ago it was Stated that it had hefih tliscaVeted in tlie roots of sdme vinfeb impbKed into Auckland, and those vines were promptly destroyed, and, it was thought, the insects with them. But if the announcement now made in Auckland be true— and there seems too little room for doubt-*-we are led to the conclusion that some of the insects must have escaped, for Unless memory serves us false, the importation of vines has since been prohibited. According to the Auckland Herald the present unwelcome discovery iVas ninde in the vinery of Mr Thomas Scott, of Mount Eden. Mr Scott says he obtained the vines four years ago, planting one side with different varieties from several suburban nurserifiSj aiid the other side with vines from W haugatei. Eighteen months ago he detected that there was something wrong with some of the vines, and rooted them out before the crop was ripe. He planted instead fresh vines ot his owo growing. These had a growth last year of 20 to 30 feet, but never had a bud, and on inspection he found the roots rotten. During the last two months he has been much Concerned at the backward appearance of the vines, and the other day he uncovered some of the roots, when sufficient evidence was obtained of their rapid decay. By the aid of a work on vine culture he was led to suspect the presence of the dreaded insect pest, and with a magnifying glass he was fully able to identify the phylloxera. He had first seen it some time befol-e on the leaf, and dug Up the vine, and seeing no other part of the viuery affected, concluded that the insect had got in its winged form through the ventilator. To make assurance doubly sure, Mr Scott, accompanied by Mr Bridgeman, waited on Mr Cheeseman, Curator of the Museum, with portions of the infected root 3, when, by the aid of a powerful microscope,|the living organisms were at once apparent and identified by Mr Cheeseman. Mr Scott intends to destroy the whole of his vines, as recommended by Mr Cheeseman. M. Bridgeman inspected his own vinery, and discovered that a vine of the Champion Muscat variety, which he had suspected on account of the buds not breaking, was also infected with phylloxera, and he at once destroyed it ; but, unlike Mr Scott's case, tbe rost of his vines are in splendid condition. He has had an alleged remedy given to him, the iugredients of which are not disclosed, which he i 3 going to use for experimental purposes, and see if it is effective. His vinery is a quarter of a mile from Mr Scctt's. Mr Scott is so disheartened with the complete havoc made in his vinery, and the expense and labor whicli would be involved in eradicating the pest, and resuming vine culture successfully, that he intends to give up operations. It is to be hoped that the Government will take prompt action to secure the eradication of the pest, by a close and systematic inspection of all Auckland vineries. It may be found easy to cope with it now, but if it spreads the difficulty will be almost uasurmountable, as the experience of France has shown. It would be a thousand pities if the cultivation of the grape-vine were abandoned in New Zealand. A great part of the North laland is admirably adapted for grape culture, and we believe that ultimately, when thia is fully recognised, large quantities of wine will be produced here. We know that most of the wines now produced in New Zealaud are things to be avoided, hut that is for want of knowledge as to the special varieties of grapes suitable for wine making, and ignorance of the proper modes of manufacture. Even as far sonth as Hawke's Bay admirable wine can he made hy those who know how to do it. At the Meanee mission station a Burgundy equal to any wine imported is now made in limited quantities, and no doubt other wines could be manufactured with equal success. But if the phylloxera once gets a hold here, men contemplating the starting of vineyards will be disheartened, and follow Mr Scott's example.