116 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



in, because ''the rain would wash away all rot and mildew from the fruit." Just 

 such mistakes as these are to blame for all failures in spraying grape-vines, for 

 wherever fruit and foliage are covered with a copper solution, the germination of 

 the spores or seeds of the fungi causing rot and mildew is impossible. But just as 

 impossible it is for any spray to be of the least benefit, if applied after this ger- 

 mination has taken place. When by naked eye we can discover the least trace of 

 mildew or rot, it proves that we should have commenced spraying at least ten days- 

 before. The way to prepare and apply the sprays is fully and ably described in 

 the bulletins published and distributed freely by our National Department of Agri- 

 culture. 



Bordeaux mixture and the ammoniacal solution of carbonate of copper are now" 

 almost exclusively used. For the last two years I have treated about eight acres- 

 of vines with one and eight acres with the other solution, and both with equally 

 good success. 1 use a Eureka knapsack sprayer with Vermorel nozzle. Irk 

 various parts of my vineyards I dig holes to collect rain-water, and at these hole* 

 fill the knapsack, adding the needed proportion of ammonia solution or concentrated 

 Bordeaux mixture. Thus water carrying is reduced to a minimum. A Bordeaux: 

 mixture of li pounds of bluestone to 22 gallons of water, is just as eftective as the 

 stronger solution formerly used. This summer I allowed the Bordeaux mixture to- 

 settle, using only the clear liquid for spraying. This avoids clogging of the nozzle» 

 makes spraying easier and keeps the fruit clean without impairing the eflectiveness 

 of the spray. To the sediment water may be added again, and the bluish white- 

 wash use for sprinkling strawberries, melons, potatoes, tomatoes, etc. 



Finally, I claim one more benefit for spraying; it greatly improves the hardi- 

 ness of our vines. Ability to resist low temperature mostly depends on the per- 

 fect ripening of the wood. The fruit, canes and buds can only ripen while the 

 foliage is sound. Well-sprayed vines keep their leaves perfect till killed by a hard 

 frost, and thus reach the highest possible degree of hardiness. 



On the 19th of last January, the thermometer at the United States fish hatch- 

 ery, at Neosho, fell to 22° below zero. This was sufficient to kill nearly all the- 

 fruit-buds on unsprayed Norton or Uynthiana vines, while all those that had been 

 well sprayed the summer before brought a fine crop. I mention the Norton 

 because it is perhaps less affected by mildew than any other vine. Varieties sub- 

 ject to mildew show still more clearly the benefit of spraying. European hybrids, 

 like Triumph, Campbell, Brilliant, Goethe, Carman and many others, produced 

 fine crops after standing last winter unprotected. Still more agreeably was I sur- 

 prised to get grapes from my numbers 50 ana 56, two varieties produced about fif- 

 teen years ago by crossing the delicious, but very tender Herbemont, with one of 

 our large wild summer grapes {Viiis jEsUvolis, type Lincecmnii), usually called Post- 

 oak grapes in Texas. 



Nos. 50 and 56 are fine grapes and our yery latest varieties, but proved too 

 tender to be valuable, and therefore were never propagated. Now I consider 

 them about as promising as any grapes we have. You, Mr. President, have tasted 

 them, and I dare say that in quality and appearance they closely resemble the va- 

 rieties Prof. T. V. Munson has originated by similar crosses. 



Among that splendid list of 29 new grapes, by far the finest collection ever 

 offered in America, now being introduced by T. V. Munson. of Denison, Texas, 

 eight of the most exquisite varieties are crosses of Herbemont on wild Post-oak or 

 summer grapes of Texas and Southwest Missouri. Mr. Munson, with his char- 

 acteristic conscientiousness, recommends these for the south only. [ am glad to be 

 able to state that four of them were tried here, and have stood 22 degrees below 



