120 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



and of course I have niiue, and that is that the rot is au atmospheric difficulty. 

 Black rot never occurs except with low state of harometer and humid atmos- 

 phere. Under these conditions, the leaves cannot throw off the secretion com- 

 ing through the vine — and therefore become stagnant. During this state I 

 have observed that many berries have on them a watery exudation, hardly per- 

 ceptible to the naked eye. My idea is that fungus spores, that atmospheric 

 condition produces, fasten themselves on these exudations and poison the berries, 

 and produce what we call bhick rot. Always before becoming black the 

 berries 2)resent a greyish mottled appearance. Pure air is the most effectual 

 remedy in my opinion. 



AVe sometimes have the rot a half dozen times during tlie season. But 

 never unless under the atmospheric state spoken of above. When vineyards 

 are saturated with water, then with showers and hot sun its effect is much 

 worse — and if such weather continues a few days, we are very certain to lose the 

 most of our crops (Catawbas), as Concords, Ives, Delawares, and lona never 

 have been affected to hurt them much here. If Prof. Cook's theory of phyl- 

 loxera would hold good we could not grow lona at all. There is no vine of 

 between 40 and 50 varieties we grow that is so much preyed upon by phylloxera, 

 yet the berries never rot. I was at the Lucas County Agricultural Society meeting 

 last week. The secretary of our state society (Mr. Bateham), advanced the 

 theory that pear blight, potato blight, and grape rot were j)roduced by atmos- 

 pheric conditions. 



Take this season as an instance. But one day wo had that peculiar atmos- 

 pheric state (July 24:th), which in our opinion produces rot. Our ground be- 

 ing in a very dry condition, was not good for the propagation of the fungus 

 spores that we believe do the mischief. 



The section of country between Sandusky and Cleveland was visited by 

 numerous showers between the 10th and 25th of July. The consequences 

 were, they have lost nearly their entire crop of Concords as well as Catawbas. 

 East of Cleveland it has been quite dry (as with us), and no rot worth 

 mentioning. 



Quite a number of vineyardists have contended that Catawbas would not 

 stand 90° of temperature without rotting. The contrary has been proved 

 here this season, for we had the thermometer at 94° to 96° for several days 

 together and no rot, — atmospheric conditions were not right. 



I see in the Fruit and AVine IJeporter, in speaking of the decline of vine 

 culture in Ohio, that the main cause is an insect sting. We have a rot that 

 Kelley Island vineyardists call "Greeley rot," that we think is caused by an 

 insect, probably the same that Prof. Holmes of your State thouglit caused 

 the malady. This insect sting gradually works from the })oint punctured, 

 taking several days before affecting the eytire berry. Upon lirst noticing the 

 sting if it is cut out the berry will heal over, and even if one-third of tlie berry is 

 black it will do so. With genuine bhick rot this is never the case. You 

 might say how is it that grapes can be protected by paper bags, as is practiced 

 by Mr. Scarborougli and others of Hamilton county, this State? They would 

 be subject to some atmospiieric iniluences. My idea is (it may be crude), that 

 these fungus spores that float through the air do not enter the sacks. 



Scientists and amateurs in the business sliould know more about these things 

 than one in my situation, growing grapes as a matter of l)read and butter, and 

 Ave look to them for a solution of the nroblem. 



