4
The Right Honorable W. B. Dalley, P.C., then Acting-Colonial Secretary, did me the honour, in April, 1885, to retain my services for an inquiry relative to the vine-yards of the Camden district, upon which occasion I reported as follows, at the conclusion of such inquiry, and after visiting some 585 acres of vines, of which 15 only were then found actually infected :
Sydney, August 22, 1885.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The immediate results of the inquiry are that no insect has been seen outside of five vineyards situated, one in the Camden district and four in the County of Cumberland, representing some 15 acres within a radius of four or five miles ; but there is every reason to expect that in accordance with what took place in other countries similarly infected, the disease, although not much developed is, in all probabilities, in a latent state, within several other vineyards, in the immediate vicinity of those where the insect is actually to be found in large numbers, and there to increase with the actual return of the spring, and during the whole of next season ; the limits of such latent invasion can be estimated at some 25 vineyards within a radius of 10 miles, but certainly not of more than 15 miles, so far at least as the insect itself is known to be disseminated by the wind of other forces of Nature, for it must be said here that plants, cuttings, &c. of vines have been sent from the infected vineyards in various directions during the previous seasons, so that, in that way, the insect may, at no very distant date, be found to have a greater hold in this country than the late inquiry could possibly reveal, unless such inquiry was extended to all the vineyards of the colony during the coming warm weather ; indeed, strong suspicions of such extended spread has been reported to you in several of my reports. Such a general inspection, besides being very expensive, would be liable to prove incomplete ; in spite of every precaution, many vineyards, old and new, being often unknown, which shows the necessity for regular records or registration of vineyards being made by their owners at the respective nearest police station.
At the present time no legislation is in force within the colony to prevent to spread of the Phylloxera ; the Act now in force is about to expire, and thus might be renewed in a more complete form, authorising the quarantining of any infected district, and otherwise empowering the Government to check the danger of destruction now threatening all existing colonial vineyards.
From my special study and practical knowledge of the subject, derived from long and constant observations, and from information obtained from eminent and learned men on the Continent of Europe, as well as from growers, up to 15 months ago, it will be a risk of loss of time and money, besides of severe disappointment for this colony, to trust to any system of destruction of infected vineyards within any radius, whilst it will prove far more satisfactory to teach the growers how to face the danger, how to get rid of it, or maintain their vineyards in spite of it, by the Government assisting them, as is done in France, to the extent of half the cost of any remedying treatment carried out under official supervision, and which circumstances would recommend as best adapted to the peculiar conditions of every vineyard, a competent and experienced officer or board being appointed by the Government for the purposes just named. At the same time all uncultivated vineyards in the vicinity of such as are infected being in all cases destroyed, or brought back again under cultivation.
I must add that every vine grower evinced great satisfaction at the interest taken in the matter by the Government, &c., &c., &c.
(Signed) H. BONNARD.
22nd September, 1885.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I have every reason to adhere to my previous advices, with respect to the way the infected vineyards should be dealt with.
The insect is now too well settled to justify any hope of saving the district and of annihilating the species of the insect, by the destruction of any plantations of vines, however extensively or carefully such wholesale destruction might be carried out.
I maintain that it will prove far more satisfactory, and less expensive, to apply at once such available remedies as the experience of other countries recommend.
My special knowledge of the subject gives me an absolute certainty that every one of the Camden vineyards can be absolutely saved from ruin, and brought round to as good and full bearing conditions as they ever were, within the next two or three years, especially wherever water is available ; and if the work is entrusted to competent hands, at a comparatively moderate cost, yet too high, however, to expect growers of small means to incur it in full themselves, the interest of the country at large justifying governmental assistance on a liberal scale.
Although several, and indeed yearly, treatments will be required for some period, the beneficial effects of such would be felt at once, provided, however, there is unity and simultaneity of action, organised either by syndical associations or under Government control, the growers being left absolutely free to manage the work themselves, as long as they do it as advised and at the time required.
It is very much to be regretted that no steps have been decided before this day, as the present season is the ones during which remedial treatments should be applied, just before the insects lay their new eggs, thus considerably limiting the number of insects upon which the insecticide agents are to act, and thereby reducing both the quantity of chemicals to be used and the cost of treatment.
I now beg to refer you again to the various suggestions offered in my report of 22nd August, and I trust that you, as the adviser of the Government, and knowing the great interest you take in the matter, will succeed in impressing the authorities with the necessity of immediate action and legislation of the subject, and I hope that my studies, work, and report in connection with the Bordeaux Exhibition, including the Phylloxera question in particular, will prove useful to the country . . . . . . . . . .
(Signed) H. BONNARD.
I now still maintain that the principle of indiscriminate destruction of vineyards can in no way be justified, as I will now endeavour to explain.
The disease caused by the Phylloxera is due to the insect sucking the sap of the vines, not from any of the parts to be seen above ground, but only from the vine roots and rootlets which, as a rule, reach very considerable depth, and are never less than several feet under the surface.