THE SUMMER MEETING. 29 



research of our best scientific students, and a deeper problem in regard to its 

 best use, in an economical and industrial as well as moral sense, worthy the 

 thoughtful study of every patriot and philanthropist. 



I will trespass on your time only long enough to suggest a few of the more 

 important questions on which we may hope to gain light by this discussion, 

 which I trust will bring to the surface many items of value to the grape grow- 

 ing interests of our State from the wide experience and study of those who are 

 with us to-day. Among diseases and enemies I notice first the "black spot," 

 which shows as a black spot upon the berry when green, accompanied usually 

 by a rough spotted appearance of the vine and foliage, sometimes blasting the 

 fruit, sometimes only spoiling one side of the berry. I understand it first 

 appeared upon the lona grape, and which it has nearly destroyed. It seems to 

 be spreading, and some years affects all the varieties I know of, but seems 

 worst upon the Catawba, Diana, and varieties kindred to the lona. Is it the 

 same disease as the "black spot" or an undertype, which has been so destruct- 

 ive in Ohio? And can any light be thrown on its cause or cure? 



I have been unable to learn of any remedy, but the fact that there is one suc- 

 cessful vineyard of the lona in our State, that of Mr. Bradfield, of Ada, should 

 be carefully studied, and may afford a clue to the remedy, — in some quality of 

 soil or water, some lacking element which may be artificially supplied. Have 

 our scholars on cultivation given it the attention it deserves? Mildew is a 

 serious trouble with some of our best varieties, and with all some years, but 

 seems to be controlled by the proper use of the proper kind of sulphur. 



The "root louse," Phylloxera, has not as I can learn yet appeared in Mich- 

 igan, but should bo carefully studied, and if our climate is not too cold for 

 its habits, we should be preparing to resist its encroachments. The remedy sug- 

 gested by Hussman is worth considering, viz. : The grafting of desired varieties 

 upon the roots of those varieties which are proof against its ravages. He claims 

 that most of Labrusca class are very liable to suffer, the Concord being an ex- 

 ception, while he thinks the Aestivalis class are free from any danger from this 

 pest. His writings being based on experience and observations in Missouri, 

 should be carefully tested by experiments in Michigan before being too exten- 

 sively copied. But if found to be correct and our climate is not a protection, 

 we should at once adopt this mode of propagating stocks for planting. This 

 rapid spread of the insect in Europe, California, and in the south, and the de- 

 struction it works, should warn us to be prepared in time for its visits. 



The Thrips is an increasing enemy, particularly upon our warm, sandy soils. 

 A simple remedy has been suggested, viz., stretching along one side the rows a 

 long piece of building paper smeared with coal tar upon one side, and then 

 brushing and driving the little pests to alight and stick upon its surface. Two 

 men and a boy can rapidly go over a vineyard, and in a few times nearly exter- 

 minate the active little plague. 



The past winter has been an extreme test upon the hardiness of varieties, and 

 I hear of injury to all, but least to the Concoi'd and its seedlings. It has dem- 

 onstrated the importance of a protecting mulch of straw, sawdust, or turf being 

 placed about the roots in the fail to protect the crown or collar from too severe 

 freezing. 



A new system of training the grape vine has been quite successfully tested 

 by one of our pains-taking growers, Mr. L. C. Crittenden, and is worthy of 

 attention. It may be termed the flat form system. It is constructed by 

 placing a cross-bar say three to four feet in length of sufficiently strong timber 

 upon the top of the trellis posts horizontally croesways of the rows, with three 



