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the pest in Cumberland and Camden, I think there is strong evidence in support of the view that it has been the neglect of this danger in the past which has caused the spread of phylloxera.

No inspection, however careful, could guarantee that cuttings or vines are free from this small egg; even if each were examined under a microscope it would probably escape observation.

The winged insect was seen in large numbers last year, and many of them probably laid their eggs in scattered points. On one vineyard at Liverpool, Mr. Helms, of the Agricultural Department, reported as follows:-"I found nearly all the lower leaves of each vine inspected more or less infested with the flying insect, some with more than ten. Many dead specimens were adhering to the leaves, and had laid their eggs at the junction of the ribs of the leaf. (These are the direct precursors of the winter egg.) The number of flying forms must have been enormous. If only each vine had been infested by a much smaller number than noticed by me the aggregate number may have reached a million or more." The Department would therefore be taking a serious risk if it allowed cuttings to leave Cumberland and Camden without warning vignerons of their danger and placing before them a preventive.

The following is a brief review of the spread of the disease in this Colony

:

Phylloxera was first discovered at Camden in 1884, where it is believed to have originated from cuttings introduced from Victoria. Five vineyards were affected. These were destroyed, but during the next four years no very systematic action was taken to cope with the pest. Cuttings and possibly rooted vines were distributed from Camden, the consequence being that in 1888 phylloxera was found in three vineyards in Camden, four at Narellan, and four in the Seven Hills district-24 miles away. Its appearance at this distance was probably due to the planting of diseased cuttings, i.e., carrying the winter egg of the phylloxera. French authorities have for years recognised that to prevent the spread of the pest they "must exert themselves to destroy the winter egg deposited on and beneath the bark of the vine." It is said to be always laid on the old wood, hence any two-yearold wood on cuttings should be removed and burned.

Locally, while fighting the subterranean insect, which does not spread the disease very rapidly, the winged form and the winter egg have been neglected in past years.

In 1889 three diseased vineyards were found in Camden and three in Seven Hills.

In 1890, in addition to its appearing in two vineyards at Camden and three at Seven Hills, it had spread to Liverpool, some 8 miles away.

Hence onward, from 1891 to 1895, the disease has appeared year after year in these three districts-fifteen vineyards having been destroyed. To these three districts a fourth-Kellyville-has now to be added, where the disease appeared in two vineyards in 1895.

Since the Department undertook to work the Act some ten months ago, inspection and destruction have been vigorously proceeded with, one Liverpool vineyard being uprooted, while one at Camden, and three more at Kellyville, have been found diseased and destroyed.

That the winged insect and its progeny are more the cause of the disease spreading, even in individual vineyards, than the root form may, I think, be assumed from the fact that in affected vineyards the diseased vines are

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scattered-large areas of healthy vines, containing succulent root food, remaining untouched between diseased spots. If the disease had spread underground along the roots, it seems hardly probable that so much good food would have been missed.

Still more certain is it that the spread of the disease to such scattered points as Camden, Liverpool, Seven Hills, and Kellyville, must be attributed to other agencies than the subterranean insects.

From the above it may, I think, be gathered that the great danger our Hunter River and Murray vignerons have to fear is that phylloxera may reach them on cuttings or rooted vines from these diseased counties, and they should guard themselves as far as possible from this risk.

It must be remembered that as the majority of nurseries are situated in Cumberland and Camden, it is from these counties that thousands of cuttings and vines are distributed to form new vineyards. The Department can hardly curtail their right to sell them without warning, besides which it would probably be useless to do so, as no system of supervision could prevent private vignerons from distributing cuttings and vines. Inspectors would be required on every road; almost in every vineyard. Rooted vines are, of course, even a greater danger than cuttings.

Again, however strict regulations the Department may make to disinfect cuttings sent out, the same difficulty in enforcing them presents itself. Vinegrowers must themselves assist to prevent the spread of the disease. The only action that can be effective is to endeavour to arouse vignerons to their danger, and at the same time show them a simple preventive.

With this end in view the following notice has been inserted in all the leading papers in New South Wales, and the Department supplies small quantities of sulphate of potash to applicants at cost price-7d. per lb.

Important Warning to Vinegrowers.

Vignerons are specially cautioned against the danger of spreading phylloxera by planting vine-cuttings grown in the counties of Cumberland or Camden unless disinfected by immersing them for twenty minutes in a solution containing 1 lb. of sulphate of potash to every 20 gallons of water. The mixture to be made in an earthenware or wooden vessel. The Department of Agriculture in issuing this warning state that the above will not injure the cuttings, and will effectually remove all danger of infection. The removal of rooted vines from Cumberland or Camden is prohibited, unless the same be specially sanctioned by an inspector. On application to the Department of Agriculture, Sydney, vignerons will be supplied with sulphate of potash at cost price, viz., 7d. per Ïb.