324 Transactions of the 



a growth of itself partaking of the nature of a fungus — and furnishing 

 the most natural food for that fungus known as mildew. When to early 

 pruning we add deep plowing and thorough cultivation of a rich and 

 moist soil, we only increase the cause of mildew by forcing the vine to 

 a more rapid mushroom growth. By late pruning we take from the 

 vine a large quantity of sap, with the canes cut oft', and also bleed the 

 vine, and thus relieve it of the superabundance of sap which early prun- 

 ing retains in it to force an unnatural growth and induce disease. 



In other words, early pruning destroys the equilibrium between the 

 wood of the vine and its food; while late pruning restores that equili- 

 brium, or retains only the proper amount of food to sustain and keep up 

 a natural growth of the vine which is left after pruning. Again: by 

 allowing the weeds to grow in the early part of the season, we extract 

 from the soil the unnecessary moisture and nutriment which exists nat- 

 urally in our rich alluvial bottom lands. Thus in a decree we reduce 

 the lands to the condition of the less rich and drier uplands on which 

 the grape in California is never troubled with mildew or rot. 



We believe the greatest cause of mildew is the presence of too much 

 moisture both in the air and in the soil. In countries where rain is fre- 

 quent during the growth and ripening of the grape, mildew is much 

 more prevalent than in our State on our richest and most moist soils. 

 In such countries the grape growers have to contend with both a damp 

 atmosphere and soil, while we have but one, and that only in our low 

 bottom lands. 



DRAINING LOW LAND VINEYARDS. 



Wherever vineyards on low lands are so situated that they can be 

 thoroughly drained, either by open or covered drains or ditches, there 

 is no doubt that much of the trouble of mildew can thus be got rid 

 of. The system of allowing the weeds to grow we would only recom- 

 mend as a temporary expedient. We believe that draining will accom- 

 plish the same result and has many advantages. 



The vineyard can thus be kept looking well, while the growing weeds 

 are an eyesore to any good farmer. Again: when the vineyard is once 

 well drained the trouble is removed for years and perhaps for a lifetime. 



SUMMER PRUNING. 



There is a great diversity of opinion among vine growers in this 

 country as to what amount of Summer pruning is best for the vineyard; 

 also, as to the best time for doing this pruning. Some contend that 

 cutting the vine back destroys the equilibrium between the vine and the 

 roots — that it is contrary to nature and tends to weaken the vine and 

 shorten its life. Others say that judicious pruning is indispensable to 

 the production of good fruit, and that it is impossible to destroy the 

 balance of power between the roots and top, because the growth of the 

 roots is governed by the growth of the branches. It is not strange that 

 there should be a diversity of opinion upon most all subjects connected 

 with the culture of the vine, since our people have learned or had their 

 experience under so many different circumstances. 



Some of our vineyardists are from Germany, some from France, some 

 from Italy, Spain, Portugal, some from the Eastern and some from the 

 Western States. All who have had any experience in vine culture before 

 ene;a<nn2' in the business in California have brought with them the 

 notions and systems of culture of the country from which they came. 



