Figure 12.  Pierre Marie Alexis Millardet was born December 13, 1838, at Montmerey-la-ville in the Department of Jura, and died December 15, 1902. He came of intellectual parents and he was thoroughly educated. He first studied medicine but gave up a good practice to study botany, first under Hofmeister at Heidelberg and, later, under de Bary at Freiburg. He was not only a profound student of botany but also an excellent artist, his drawings being the admiration and envy of his fellow students. Upon returning to France, he took the doctorate in both medicine and science. He held the positions of assistant professor of botany in the University of Strassburg in 1869, professor of botany at Nancy, 1872, and finally, professor of botany at Bordeaux in 1876, where he remained until his retirement in 1899. His first work was entirely in pure science but his later years were devoted to economic botany. The introduction of the Phylloxera and the downy mildew fungus, Plasmopara viticola, from America, caused Millardet to devote all of his efforts to applied botany. Millardet and his colleague, Planchon, found mildew at about the same time, but in different parts of France in 1878. The introduction, by Millardet, of resistant American vines as stocks for grafting of the European varieties, saved the French vineyards from damage by Phylloxera. His observation of the prophylactic effects against mildew of a copper sulphate-lime mixture used to sprinkle grapevines along the highways to prevent stealing of the grapes, led to the discovery and development of Bordeaux mixture. The discovery of this famous fungicide undoubtedly saved the wine-growing industry of France and is probably Millardet's greatest contribution to science. -- F. J. SCHNEIDERHAN BACK