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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Country Heaven
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
This is the one to buy if you wish to get the most out of your arm and give the most to your dog
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Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2025
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Kelly Mikulcik
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
Great design
Size: 25in
Ball is very durable yet soft. Whistles when you throw it and goes very far. Handle is ergonomic with a nice rubber grip. Both the launcher and ball glow green in the dark. My GSD loves it. She’s 75 lbs and the medium ball is fine.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2026
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Rider1
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Husband and dogs highly approve.
Size: 25in
My husband wanted us to replace one from a different company that broke. It had to have a glow in the dark ball, since he sometimes plays fetch with the dogs at night. He couldn’t love this more. Says it’s so much better than the other one, the whole thing glows in the dark and it throws farther. According to him, it’s the best ever.
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Megan
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 4
Glow In The Dark Ball
Size: 18in
I gave this 4/5 stars because the ball is a little small for my dog size so I was hoping the sizing was easier to read. It could have been an error on my end. The ball is great though! It lights up nicely when it is out in the sunlight or under a light for a long periods of time, it lights up at night so you can play with your dog at night when it is cooler!
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Barbara Wheeler
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
Ball launcher
Size: 25in
The toy dog ball laucher well made holds up. Would purchase again.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2025

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