PHYLLOXERA AT WHANGAREI

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10664, 31 January 1898, Page 5

PHYLLOXERA AT WHANGAREI

[BY TELKGRAPH.-OWH CORRESPONDENT. J * . ; 1 Whakoabbj, Saturday. Mr. G. B. Aldbkton, in accordance with the Orchard and Garden Pests Act, to-day. notified the Minister of Agriculture that he has discovered phylloxera in his vineyard. It is three aores in extent and eight years old, It usually produces about five tons of grapes, and has a heavy crop th a ywr. It will now, under the existing law, be gazetted as infected. Nothing can be sold off the property, and the vineyard must be destroyed. The owner gets no compensation whatever for the loss of Ins proper y. New Zealand is the only country in the world where such a law exists. In Ausfcralia, California,, France, and elsewhere, if a vineyard is destroyed -by authority of the Government, compensation is paid. Mr. Alderton, who feels the loss of his eight years' work very keenly, pointedly asb-Why should a man, because lie lias phylloxera, have his pro per 1 confiscated, any more , than a man who has codlin moth, in apples! The injustice is very apparent. ,i Mr; Alderton vineyard Consists half of American vines and half of European. The latter are attacked : worst, and badly on the roots.- The American are only affected on the leaves. ■; The Government officials, may, glean very, » m P° r an J information here . regarding the resistant qualities of American vines.'t This now discovery of phvlloxora will have a very discouraging effect [} on viticulture -in : ; the * North. This vineyard is more than a mile , from any other vinos, and it is evident the - insect has been carried by birds, which may spread the disease . in any direction. v Oap' tain Broun is in the district, and will visit Mr. Alderton's next week."