Phylloxera: How Wine Was Saved for the World
SKU: 34197020120

Phylloxera: How Wine Was Saved for the World

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Phylloxera: How Wine Was Saved for the WorldA historical investigation into the mysterious bug that wiped out the vineyards of France and Europe in the 1860s and how one young botanist eventually 'saved wine for the world'. In the early 1860s, vines in the lower Rh ne valley, and then around Bordeaux, inexplicably began to wither and die. Panic seized France, and Jules mile Planchon, a botanist from Montpellier, was sent to investigate. Magnifying glass in hand, he discovered the roots of a

A historical investigation into the mysterious bug that wiped out the vineyards of France and Europe in the 1860s - and how one young botanist eventually 'saved wine for the world'.

In the early 1860s, vines in the lower Rh ne valley, and then around Bordeaux, inexplicably began to wither and die. Panic seized France, and Jules- mile Planchon, a botanist from Montpellier, was sent to investigate. Magnifying glass in hand, he discovered the roots of a dying vine covered in microscopic yellow insects. The tiny aphid would be named Phylloxera vastatrix - 'the dry leaf devastator'. Where it had come from was utterly mysterious, but it advanced with the speed of an invading army. As the noblest vineyards of France came under biological siege, the world's greatest wine industry tottered on the brink of ruin. The grand owners fought the aphid with expensive insecticide, while peasant vignerons simply abandoned their ruined plots in despair. Within a few years the plague had spread across Europe, from Portugal to the Crimea.

Planchon, aided by the American entomologist Charles Riley, discovered that the parasite had accidentally been imported from America. He believed that only the introduction of American vines, which appeared to have developed a resistance to the aphid, could save France's vineyards. His opponents maintained that this would merely assist the spread of the disease. Meanwhile, encouraged by the French government's offer of a prize of 300,000 gold francs for a remedy, increasingly bizarre suggestions flooded in, and many wine-growing regions came close to revolution as whole local economies were obliterated. Eventually Planchon and his supporters won the day, and phylloxera-resistant American vines were grafted onto European root-stock. Despite some setbacks - the first fruits of transplanted American vines were universally pronounced undrinkable - by 1914 all vines cultivated in France were hybrid Americans.

Phylloxera is an entertaining, revealing and frequently astonishing account of one of the earliest and most successful applications of science to an ecological disaster.



Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Published: 10/04/2010
ISBN: 9780007115365
Pages: 368
Weight: 0.76lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.00w x 0.96d
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SKU: 34197020120

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Auskan
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
Worth the money
Size: Medium (Pack of 2), Color: Assorted
I've had several sizes of Chuck-It ball launchers for years but had resisted buying the balls to go with them because I had about 50 tennis balls already that cost only pennies apiece and these were quite a bit more expensive. But, I got tired of the dogs chewing up the tennis balls. I'd start a ball throwing session with a brand new ball and for the first few throws it would sail through the air and the dogs would have to work to retrieve it. However on the way back, their jaws would work it, chomp-chomp-chomp. And when they returned to me, they'd want to stand there and chomp some more, despite my command to "Drop it!" Within 30 minutes, the brand new ball would have a hole in it and then instead of sailing several football fields through the air, then bouncing over a couple of trees, I'd throw it and it would piddle unenthusiastically to the end of the driveway before falling to the ground with a sulky thud, not even bothering to bounce. So - I finally grew tired of going through a ball every time I play with the dogs - which is everyday - and ordered these chuck-it balls. They are the same size as a tennis ball but made of a rubber-like material (not silicone) and after several months of use, have no wear and tear on them at all. The dogs can exercise their gums on them all the way back to me - throw after throw - and the ball still flies the same distance each time, and bounces satisfyingly upon contact with the ground. The description says "colors may vary" but the first packet I ordered were blue and orange as pictured. Unfortunately my dog lost the orange one the first time we used it. She got thirsty and ran down to our pond for a drink, dropped the ball in the pond and it hasn't been seen since. It is dense enough it doesn't float as a tennis ball might, and by now is probably so covered in mud and slime that I wouldn't recognize it if I tripped over it. Lesson learned: we don't throw the ball in the pond pasture any more. After losing the orange ball, I ordered a second packet of the balls so that I would always have a spare. The second packet is also blue and orange. So while colors may vary, in my experience so far, they haven't (which doesn't matter to me or the dogs).
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Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2015
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Dawn T Conway
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 5
Super Chewer Friendly!!
Size: Large (Pack of 1), Color: Multi
This ball is perfect for the super Chewer!! It is squishy and durable rubber that stands up to the aggressive chewer. It does not squeak. It has great bounce and is a great toy for fetch. Very cute to watching my pup bring the ball back for another throw. The rubber doesn't stick or have an average powering smell. It smells just like a rubber ball. It is highly functional for a great game of fetch! Highly recommend and very happy with our purchase. It is well worth the price. We will be ordering more.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2025
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Dawn
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
My dog LOVES these balls
Awesome balls! Soft, squishy, and dog can get their teeth into them but they don’t get damaged. My dog absolutely loves them!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2026
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M. Merritt
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
Durable.
These are great for my 13 lb Schnauzer. Just the right size to keep him occupied! He loves chasing after them when we play catch. They’ve held up well to his sharp teeth.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2025
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SUZANNE BUSE
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice design
These balls are wonderful, easy to throw and my puppy can hold on to them
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Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2025

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