STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 149 



RECAPITULATION AND CONCLUSION. 



1. The causes of disease. — a. The simple fact that, in years 

 marked by great uniformity of weather, we are able to raise 

 good grapes, in any ordinary good soil, and by ordinary culture 

 is a perfect proof that the climate is mainly in fault in the pro- 

 duction of the grape disease. 



b. The intrinsic evils of the climate act reciprocally with the 

 use of varieties not originally adapted to the climate, and proba- 

 bly now in an exhausted condition, a condition which will ever 

 make them unworthy of reliance for cheap ordinary culture. 



c. Even such native sorts as the Isabella and Catawba, origi- 

 nating, as they probably did, as far south as Lat. 33° to 36° can 

 never be perfectly reliable on the line of 42° to 43°, north, i. e., 

 between Boston and Chicago. 



d. The natural evils of the climate, and the adventitious one 

 of ill-adapted varieties, have been further enhanced by unwise 

 modes of culture, such as the long continued use of cuttings, 

 close trimming, too rich soil, culture continued too late in the 

 season, and the exposure of the vine in positions of too great 

 solar influence. 



2. The immediate remedy. — a. The use of the strongest varie- 

 ties, provided they are otherwise valuable. 



b. The choice of dry, deep soils of moderate fertility, situated, 

 if possible, in sheltered positions, as in deep valleys, and at the 

 foot of hills, avoiding however hot southern slopes. 



c. Moderate culture discontinued after mid-summer. 



d. More room than has usually been given, to allow perfect 

 exposure to sun and air. 



€. No mid-summer pruning, and allowing such sorts as will 

 stand winter exposure, to run at will over spreading trees, 

 hedges and wide artificial frames. 



/. The use of a coping, in the case of close planted and close 

 trimmed sorts, to protect from spring and autumn frosts. 



g. The use of fresh wood ashes and plaster of paris in case of 

 actual approaching disease. 



3. The remote remedy. — a. In such a climate as ours, espe- 

 cially in the northern states, we may not hope ever regularly to 



