The Botanist and the Vintner
by Christy Campbell
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In the mid-1860s, grapevines in southeastern France inexplicably began to wither and die. French botanist Jules-É mile Planchon was sent to investigate. Magnifying glass in hand, he discovered that the vine roots were covered in microscopic yellow insects. The aphids would be named Phylloxera vastatrix— “ the dry leaf devastator.” Where they had come from was a mystery.

Way over here on the east coast I get up just past 6 a.m. & enjoy my book club excerpts with my morning coffee after letting the dogs out in shifts, little dogs first, then big ones. I always feel like I am the first one reading every morning because of our time zone...except for people in Newfoundland & Labrador who started a half an hour earlier.
Looking forward to this book. I just ordered a dozen grape vines the other day. Hope we don't get aphids....

Doesn't sound remotely interesting to me.Maybe the next one.

Is anybody else reading these excerpts?
I read a book a while ago, a memoir by a niece I think it was, of Darwin's. She comments on his being a major hypochondriac. Funny to think of such an adventurous person sitting at home sniffing snuff.

Pam, I read these excerpts. I found them interesting, but not all at the same time. I am a biology major, so I thought surely I would get into it, but I am having difficulty. I might read the book, but I haven't decided yet.