STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 175 



grapes — a large, delicate, and richly flavored poach, apple, pear, plum, or 

 strawberry — a beautifully tinted rose, pink, chrysanthemum, or hyacinth, 

 with all their rich and delicate fragrance, so grateful to our senses — will 

 sometimes show themselves to the wondering observer without any aid 

 or protection from those on whose domain thej' ventured to intrude. 



But these are mere accidents, or rather providences, droplets from 

 above, to set us to thinking. But, says some one, I thought you was 

 going to write an article on mildew. That's true; but I want my friend 

 and ni3 T self to get as far away from it as possible, (not from the subject, 

 but from the mildew.) In order to do this it was not only necessary to 

 show the origin, character, and habits of the poisonous pest, but to show 

 how its influences can be fenced out from our kitchens, our bedrooms, our 

 wardrobes, our laundries, our vineyards, our orchards, our nurseries, and 

 our field crops and fences. Go and plant your vineyard or orchard in a stiif 

 cold soil, (especially if not thoroughly underdrained,) where late spring 

 and early autumn frosts prevail, or sow your wheat on the same kind of 

 soil or location, and you will be sure at some time or other to see or hear 

 of the mildew or rust bidding j-ou good morning. Shall I tell you of the 

 disappointment of the nurseryman who sees at the latter part of the sea- 

 son his apple seedlings all covered with mildew like a hoar frost, just 

 because he sowed the apple seeds in a stiff cold soil, or in an unhealthy 

 exposure? Shall I hint at the vinedresser, who frets and frets at the 

 small quantity and inferior quality of his grapes or his wine, when the 

 mildew has placed its seal on his fruit and his vines, because they are 

 planted in a stiff cold soil in an improper aspect, too near to large heavy 

 f'oliaged trees, or too crowded together? Look all over this State, count 

 the thousands, nay millions of peach trees denuded, naked, with nothing 

 to cover them but moss or cracked bark. Look, as you pass through 

 the orchards in the months of April or May, and count, if you can, the 

 countless number of apple trees whose young foliage and tender shoots 

 are as white with mildew as if the miller had been shaking his sack over 

 them. Just look into some of the vineyards in this State in the months 

 of July or August, if 3*011 can bear the sight, and see the sad havoc this 

 ravenous enem}* of vegetation — mildew — has committed, all on account 

 of unsuitable soil, improper exposure, or injudicious treatment. But I 

 cannot write much more now. I did not think when I first began that 

 I should have to say one half of what this article contains, but having 

 shown the origin, character, and habits of the mildew, I thought it 

 necessary to throw* out a few hints as to the manner of guarding against 

 this infamous pest. I have shown that it carries the black flag of piracy, 

 and unless a thorough blockade be at all times maintained, it will creep 

 into our vineyards, our orchards, our gardens, and our dwellings 1 . It is 

 not the primary cause of disease; but wherever disease, decay, or decom- 

 position has taken place, it will fix its ruthless fangs, and under suitable 

 circumstances, generate almost all other diseases to which the vegetable 

 world is liable. What I have written is the result of a long life of prac- 

 tical experience and observation. I have used some pretty strong expres- 

 sions, but 1 have been combatting an insidious and deadly enemy, and in 

 such a warfare I wish to wield the keenest and heaviest weapon availa- 

 ble ; and if the facts here stated attract the attention of one or more of 

 my fellow cultivators, so as to set them to thinking, and eventually induce 

 them to join in the fight against the common enemy, I shall feel amply 

 rewarded for the time and attention bestowed. 



