Scientific men were called in to combat the dread disease. The attempts to kill the phylloxera were abandoned as impracticable. Happily, it was discovered that if the vines were grafted on American roots, largely taken from the southern part of the country, especially Texas, they produced a plant which the phylloxera did not attack. This discovery lead to the renovation of the vineyards, not only of the Cognac region, but of all parts of France. In the last 15 or 20 years the vineyards have been entirely re-established and even extended beyond their original boundaries, so that the prosperity of the Cognac region has now been renewed.

It is interesting, in this connection, to call attention to the fact that the celebrated American scientist Dr. C. V. Riley, did very much of the scientific work which resulted in the restoration of the French vineyards.