ANNUAL MEETING AT LEXINGTON. 173- 



failure by rot, while Nortons or Cyuthiana, Ives and Elvira have done 

 best, belMg the least affected by rot, and produced fair crops, however 

 not entirely exempt from rot. 



The rot is most prevalent in the older vineyards, as the poisonous 

 matter that causes the rot is increasing with age of the vineyard. This 

 has been proven, as young vineyards at all times are least affected. by 

 rot. The vines appear to undergo changes at certain ages. For in- 

 stance, the Concord and many of the old kind, where first introduced, 

 have for years proved almost exempt from rot, likewise many of our 

 newer kinds. All appear to share the same fate in time, with the ex- 

 ception that some will resist it longer than others. 



There have been many remedies for preventing rot, but none has 

 proved a success. Many experiments have been made to prevent rot, 

 but so far all have failed except to cover the vines over head or to run 

 them under an eave; this however, is too expensive. 



Paper bagging the grapes in their early stages is at present much 

 practiced and considered the cheapest preventive we know of. It m 

 however attended with much labor, and may only be profitably em- 

 ployed on the finer varieties. A cheaper rot preventive is anxiously 

 looked for, and the man who will discover such a preventive of pear 

 blight may be called a great benefactor to fruit growers, as I consider 

 the grape and pear the finest fruits we grow. It is hoped that we may 

 all soon be blessed with such a discovery and be able to hail such a 

 benefactor. Then we might succeed in growing the most delicious- 

 fruits of our soil— the grape and the pear. 



Let all, therefore, strive with zeal and patience to discover such a 

 remedy and become this immortal benefactor. Until such a remedy is 

 discovered, our policy must be to plant new vineyards from time to 

 time in new places, and selecting the best new varieties, and to con- 

 tinue to raise new seedlings to take the place of older sorts that may 

 fail. 



These hints apply more particularly to the older districts, but if 

 heeded by the younger, many of the evils attending the older may be- 

 averted. 



