PHYLLOXERA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6383, 28 July 1882, Page 3

PHYLLOXERA.

Mr Isitt, secretary to the Horticultural Society qf Christchurch, has received the following letter from Baron Mueller, Gqyqrnment Botanist for the Colony of Victoria: —

Melbourne, July 13th, 1882. To F. Whitmore Isitt, Esq. g; r j n jjjply to your letter, received tnis day I most assuredly advise that your intention to petition the New Zealand Government not to allow the importation of any plants or cuttings or fruits of the grape vine be carried into eifect. Indeed, by my own impulse I urged on influential New Zealand correspondents some time ago that such a measure as the Horticultural Society of Chnstchurch very proporly advocates should become law. New Zealand, by its insular position, will derive full benefit from an Act of the Legislature to this effect, while countries or Colonies territorially connected, if even invaded only at one place, are not so sure to protect themselves against the influx and spreading of the Phylloxera vastatrix, however rigorously the importation of grapes and of vine plants and cuttings may be prevented from adjoining places. It wuT be even a matter of consideration for New Zealand whether or not every kind of living plant should be prohibited from being sent there from any country m which the Phylloxera vastatrix has established itselt. By some such full and complete interdict the dreaded insect has been kept out of the islands of Greece, while all the other countries around the Mediterranean Sea became infected by this insect pest in the vineries.—l have, &c., F. Yon Mueller, M.D., Government .Botanist foV the Cf-lony of Victoria.

Murray and Lanman's Florida YVatkr tofjani and clears the skit), and is a most delijthtful per, tame.—P. Hayman and Co., agents.-[Advt.]