596 TRANSACTIONS OF THE , 



and gave it as his belief that death was caused by violent changes of tem- 

 perature, a very hot time of weather following a cold foggy time, thus 

 causing an exhaustion of the stock of the plant faster than it was pre- 

 pared for. There would be some plausibility about this, were it not a fact 

 that we have never had such trouble in this section. It might be possible 

 to belive that one such accidental year might come where the changes from 

 cold to hot were exceptional, and thus have this sickness for that one year, 

 but the trouble about this matter is that this condition of the vines dying 

 is repeating itself with each coming year, and it now has repeated itself 

 for say five years, and each succeeding year the damage has increased. 

 It is not, therefore, an accident that has come about for one year, but one 

 that has repeated itself every year for the last five years. Now, this would 

 not likely be the case, nor can it be believed that this one year has planted 

 this disease and time completed the harm done. It is a fact that the vines 

 near Anaheim were afflicted first, followed by, perhaps a year after, those 

 near Santa Ana, and subsequent to that time it has made its appearance 

 in San Gabriel Valley. I have studied over this matter much, and tried to 

 form some theory concerning it. There is one circumstance which may 

 possibly explain this singular phenomenon, namely: too early pruning. 

 In years previous to the appearance of this disease, pruning was never done 

 until the vine had shed all its leaves. At Anaheim I first saw pruning 

 done as soon almost as the grape crop was gathered, and even as early as 

 October. It being convenient, I too followed in the practice, and others 

 again followed me, and with no immediate evil effect. It is true, vines 

 thus early pruned were the last to bud out the following spring, but as there 

 was no enfeebled condition of growth, when the vines did start, it was a 

 condition of affairs to be desired, for it made less risk to the crop of grapes 

 in being overtaken by a late frost. Yet that there was an effect was clearly 

 shown by the lateness of the vine putting forth their new growth. Again 

 Anaheim was the first to practice early pruning, and was the first to suffer 

 by the vines dying. Santa Ana would naturally, being adjoining, be the 

 next to follow the practice, and was next affected. Sunny Slope, my 

 former home, was the first to suffer in the San Gabriel Valley, and was the 

 first to practice this early pruning. All these facts may be only coinci- 

 dents, and may not contain the cause of this disease, yet when no satisfac- 

 tory reason has ever been given, it may be well to postpone its early 

 pruning, and go back to the late pruning as was practiced in former years, 

 until all the leaves have naturally been shed by maturity. To prune in 

 October and November nearly all the leaves are yet held fast, and many of 

 the ends of shoots are yet making a feeble growth. It is, of course, a well 

 known fact, that the stripping of the leaves of the most robust growth of 

 any tree or plant, if often enough repeated, will kill such tree or plant. It is 

 true, in October and November, leaves of the vine have naturally performed 

 their duty, and the wood is hard, yet it may be, after all, that this early prun- 

 ing followed for a few years, in the end tells on the life and health of a vine, 

 and has the same effect, only more slowly, and less apparent than the strip- 

 ping the new leaves. It would be a pleasure to give in detail the various 

 displays on exhibition, but I have been unwell, and it has only been by a 

 great effort that I have prepared this short paper. If, however, there has 

 been a suggestion made, which may be a benefit to orange or grape culture, 

 then the effort will not have been in vain. I thank you for your attention, 

 and hope the future may be increasing in its prosperity in the same ratio 

 as it has from the beginning till now, and that we may all often yet meet 

 to enjoy this increased prosperity together. 



